Gathered here is a collection of feedback I’ve received while writing for The Herald Sun. Unless otherwise indicated, these comments were made in response to “The Outspokin’ Cyclist,” a monthly column on bicycling in Durham. These snippets are a collection of emails (anonymized), comments left on my website, and letters to the editor (Herald Sun).
Phillip Barron’s guest column ["Institutionalizing cruelty to animals," Herald-Sun, March 21] is a brilliantly written and insightful essay on the parallels between cruelty to animals and people. He reveals a profound insight into the way people interpret evolutionary biology as a moral order in “the great chain of being” for both man and beast (“The room for hierarchy among species is what makes room for hierarchies within human society”).
It is a rare pleasure to read an article that brings to light the way our 19th century belief in the moral ascendancy of man colors the cruel behavior we allow to all beings on the planet, including ourselves. A thinker who writes as well as Barron deserves more columns in this paper. — Keith C. | Durham, NC (March 2007)
“i wanted to say that it was a great column that you wrote today — you said what i’ve been thinking about cities and small towns these days, only more eloquently and probably with less frustration… one other difference i see in durham in terms of public transit compared to other “big” cities is that public transit here has a certain class stigma attached to it. In other cities it doesn’t seem that way.” — Eunice | Durham, NC (February 2007)
“Love the article. Love living in the very walkable, very cool, and decidedly unbanalized Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis.” — Andrew B. | Minneapolis, MN (February 2007)
“I am glad there are people like yourself and more importantly people in power (e.g. the County Commissioner of Durham) that have the courage to think differently and use their power and voices to change things for the better.” — Pradeep G. | India (February 2007)
“As always, a very well-written, well-thought-out piece. I hope it inspires as much thought in the readers!
I’m hoping you can help me out…You mention Becky Heron, but she’s in Durham County. BC is in Wake County. Is there someone like her in Wake who’s willing to hold developers’ feet to the fire, as it were?” — B.J.W. | Cary, NC (February 2007)
“On my way home each night from work I tend to be at the top of the small rise coming from duke’s east campus down onto broad street. I think that’s the altitudinal high point of my ride home. At that point I can see somewhat above broad and ninth street and in these colder months around 5:00 – 5:30pm you can watch the sky go pink and orange as you coast down the slope. I try to take a few moments as I spin down to take my hands off the bars, sit back and just breathe in watching the sun go down, if only for 10-20 seconds.” — Seth V. | Durham, NC (January 2007)
“Thanks! It was a very wet & windy commute this morning, and the smashed up cars on Tryon Rd were disconcerting, but now I’m looking forward to slipping out later to run an errand, even if my clothes will still be damp.” — Adrian H. | Raleigh, NC (January 2007)
“After reading your column is this morning’s Herald Sun, I couldn’t help but invite you to our backyard in northern Durham to watch a sunset.” — Pam C. | Durham, NC (January 2007)
“I am a reader of your newspaper column, thanks for the refreshing articles. In particular the one it appear in today’s’ Durham Morning Herald. I am a biker (with my son we are into touring). We have done some and we are planning more trips schedules permitting. The problem that we have not been able to resolve is our rear end-pain!! We need to get better seats but I have not had any luck so far in getting reliable information. I have consulted with local shops, read some articles about it but I have not been able to decide what’s is best for us.
Do you have any suggestion about a reliable bike shop that we can trust?” — Gustavo D.L. | Durham, NC (January 2007)
“I am very happy to have read your article, which I must admit is really interesting especially for someone, like me, who has been involved in bicycle research.I will be following your research with great interest.” — Dr. Moazzam I. | London, England (January 2007)
“Thank ypu so much for your article o bettering the bicycling and “the plan” now in the hands of proper people for action very soon!!!!! In the “Herald-Sun \Durham, North Carolina Thursday ‘ December 7, 2006.” I have just recently moved here and cannot drive car so am very dependent on my bicycle for nearly all- that don’t walk- transport. Haven’t tried buses yet, nor have I searched for Americans Disabilities Act transportation- I lived in San Antonio andthe hills there some way out of my travels- going to take some riding here to get in to shape for the hills here: lots of them I find! The public buses announced and informed the riders that 85-95% of all the bus costs were covered by Federal Govt grants and money. Here??? I had very good van door to door service when called for and paid $1.25 for the trip or bought cards at reduced prices if making lots of scheduled appointments, etc. I am from bullets through my head in Korea in 1951 leading a platoon of Marines in last big offensive actions there, and am 100% SC Disabled. I’m looking to see if the DAV has vans here for VA appts, but fortunatel;y can bicycle over to the VAMC from where I live. Again thanks and good riding–I wonder if “plans” have any provision for , and I don’t knowhow they’d do it, but in rains, we really get splashed from standing-heay runningwaters inright lanes- very tempting to ride high center line crests- and I expect lots of rain here- about an inch a week I have read of 40-0 inches a year here.” — Clyde B. | Durham, NC (December 2006)
Find learning outside
What schools need, according to John McCann’s Oct. 13 column, are “…really, really tall fences with some of that curly razor wire at the top.” Thank you, Phillip Barron [Herald-Sun, Nov. 2], for reminding me that young people might need something different.
When I go into a school, I seem to come out with a new cold or the flu. I see parents driving kids to schools and kids driving kids to school. I think, what are the real risks here? If fear is the most fearsome ogre, must we feed him so well?
What if our mantra is “outside lies magic,” in John Stilgoe’s words? That the tools of learning are eyes, feet, and curiosity? What if our kids were never in schools? Instead, we’d find them with their teachers, along the banks of the Eno, aboard Amtrak bound for the Monet exhibit in Raleigh, meeting their representatives in Washington, D.C., or building a Habitat house.
An organization to which I belong, Hostelling International, believes that it is open doors that open minds. A Chapel Hill United Methodist Church takes this belief one step further: Open Doors, Open Minds, Open Hearts.
Is this akin to saying “Open Sesame?” Perhaps it is simply choosing to live with hope, seeking joy.
LYNN S. W. | Durham, NC (November 2006)
“”….most of the time they lie beyond where cars can go.”
Isn’t that the truth. Thanks for the inspiring post, I think I’ll print copies and just hand them to people who wonder why in the world I bike to work. In the meantime, I think I’ll make it a point to take a different route on my commute home today…” — Alan D. | Durham, NC (November 2006)
“Great article. You illustrated well exactly how I feel about cycling.” — Jill H. | Anchorage , AK (November 2006)
“perfect” — Derek P. | Olympia, OR (November 2006)
“Excellent article!” — Kan V. | Raleigh, NC (October 2006)
“Thank you for writing about accidents and biking. Crucial issue. It comes up every time the issue of biking on the roads does, with the comment “It’s dangerous” ending all consideration. I don’t agree, but there is some truth to it.
Your challenge to the media to describe incidents more accurately is on target, as is your call for responsibility in driving and biking.
I would also like to see the truth about bike accidents to come out in the initial article.For example, the initial article about the tragic death of Mr. Alston in on Chapel Hill Road/Hwy 54 in Chapel Hill this
spring failed to mention that he was biking with no lights, in dark clothing, at night, on a highway where the speeds exceed 50 mph. It also stated that NC 54 has lots of potholes. I drove that section several times, and saw no potholes, only one section where the macadam had seperated; this was just before the point of impact for his accident.
The casual reader probably finished the article convinced that biking is “dangerous”, when in fact the victim was almost invisible and was hit because of that and probably because he swerved inward to avoid the cracks in the macadam. In fact many of the bicyclists hit by motorists reported in the News and Observer are biking at night with no lights and no helmet or reflective clothing. Statistics for “invisible” biking should be reported seperately from “legal” biking.
I think many bike/car collisions can be reduced to the biker being “invisible” to the motorist. I just moved to the Duraleigh Road area and was “buzzed” going home on Duraleigh at Ebenezer Church Road by a car. The road curves to the right where it happened, and I think it’s a blind corner situation, where at a distance, the shrubs hide objects on the extreme right of the road. I’m seeking to problem/solve this situation, maybe by riding in the center of the right lane, taking the sidewalk, even riding in the left lane.
Anyway, it’s great that you and your newspaper are writing about biking and I look forward to reading your column every Thursday.” — Spencer Q. | Raleigh, NC (October 2006)
“A very fine column today! From the time our daughter was small, my husband and I refused to use the word “accident” when referring to vehicular traffic mishaps. Instead, we use “wreck” so as to impress upon her that there is nothing accidental about choosing to speed, talk on the phone, run red lights, imbibe alcohol or do any one of the myriad things drivers persist in doing, often with tragic consequences. Now that she is 16 and has a learner’s permit, we hope that she knows to anticipate others’ risky behavior while behind the wheel herself.” — Nancy P | Durham, NC (October 2006)
“Have you read Robert Redeker’s Le Sport Contre Les Peuples? Is worth a read for what he said several years ago about the role of money on sport today, especially in cycling.” — Harry C. | Paris, France (September 2006)
“No doubt there is something unfair about taking performance-enhancing drugs when no other competitors (are allowed to) do so. But is this really so different in principle from other sources of inequality? And if one starts off with a natural disadvantage due to bad luck in the “genetic lottery”, might it not in fact be fairer to grant them a compensatory advantage in some other respect?
It seems especially difficult to draw a principled distinction between drugs and good nutrition. Of course the latter isn’t against the rules (and so everyone presumably “does it”). But this suggests a certain arbitrariness about the rules. If all athletes doped up, it might just be seen as another form of “eating right” to get their bodies in optimal shape.
So while it’s reasonable to ask people to respect the rules, I think the philosophically more interesting question here is whether the rules themselves are uniquely justified. And that isn’t so clear to me at all. Anti-drug arguments based on the importance of “hard work” neglect the close analogy between drugs and good nutrition. Presumably in neither case is consumption alone sufficient for good results. But they can enhance the benefits one gets from further practice. And it’s hard to see how either of these is less “earnest” than the other.
So my challenge is this: when you get right down to it, what relevant difference is there between steroids and bananas? (Is there an assumption here that the latter is somehow more “natural”?)” — R.C. | Australia (September 2006)
“I’m going to be there, perhaps with my wife and bambino on a tandem built for three:), perhaps alone, but I’ll be there.
Thanks for spreading the word.” — Drew C. (bike/car accident victim)| Carrboro, NC ( May 2006)
“I was interesed in reading your recent article about bicycle safety and things cyclists should do to insure it as much as possible. However, I felt you left out the most important one – “obeying the rules of the road”. Let me explain.
In my teens and twenties I was an active cyclist, using my bicycle for daily transportation and on long road road trips. I was a member of American Youth Hostelers at the time. I lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In order to use a bicyle on the road it had to licensed and to get a license the cyclist had to take an exam demonstrating that he or she knew the rules of the road. If a policeman caught a cyclist violating the rules of the road, the cyclist could be fined and for some violations, the license could be revoked. Because these rules were enforced for the cyclists, they were obeyed and drivers of vehicles could expect that cyclist would follow the same rule that they had to.
Unfortunately as a driver in Durham, I never know what a cyclist is going to do. Most of them do not obey stop signs or stop lights and they frequently cut in front of a car to make a left turn. We need to enforce the rules of the road for bicycles as well as vehicles.” — Dr. Ken K. | Durham, NC (March 2006)
“Great article! I’ve been procrastinating, and haven’t decided on my new bike. Your advice has been very helpful. I’m not ready to get a custom frame, but this is great motivation to get that new bike.” — Chris S. | Durham, NC (January 2006)
“Good to read such a story . . . I have many fond (and similar) memories of riding across the country with a college buddy of mine the summer after I graduated. What a great way to see territory. Boy . . . she’d really have to be moving to do the whole 6,800 miles in a month OR a month-and-a-half!! 150 – 225 miles a day!” — Drew C. | Durham, NC (December 2005)
“I live in Chatham County and am a member of the North Carolina Horse Council (NCHC) Board of Directors, and we also have a point of view regarding this proposal. I invite you to expand the scope of your reporting and present the viewpoint of those who prefer to keep the trail surface as packed granite screenings (and it’s more than just equestrian users). I have attached a letter that the NCHC recently sent to Tom Norman, and I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you to expand on the points made in this letter. I would also recommend that you interview the Wake County staff responsible for managing that section of the trail, to learn their perspective on the problems you have identified and to provide more balanced information to the public.” — Barbara O. | Chatham Co., NC (November 2005)
“I started biking to work in late August, and in addition to biking to work, also I drive my bike to get my son from day care once or twice a week.” — Rhonda K. | Durham, NC (October 2005)
“Thanks for writing about IMBA’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day in your column!” — Mark E. | Boulder, CO (September 2005)
“I enjoy cycling, and usually am excited to read articles in mainstream papers promoting cycling as a sport and social activity. However, I was shocked by your July 14 column. To suggest that cyclists ride at night, and glorify riding after sunset is appalling. Cycling at night is extremely dangerous, and puts not only the cyclist themself at risk, but the motorists sharing the road at risk as well. Even a cyclist with a tail light and a reflective jersey is NOT visible at night. While night riding may be “nice and cool,” dusk and the evening is simply not the time for cyclists to be on the road. I worry that novice (or expert!) cyclists may read your column, and decide to swap their muggy afternoon ride for a cooler ride at 9PM, and find out the hard way just how invisible even a cautious cyclist is to a large truck after sunset.
Motorists and non-cyclists tend to balk about cyclists, how many want to share the road, but fail to yield to traffic signals; how many weave dangerously in and out of traffic; and how invisible cyclists are riding at dusk. I think that most cyclists are safe and avoid these dangerous behaviours, but a few unsafe, louzy cyclists — including the “ex-professional cyclists” mentioned in your article, choose to ride their bikes during unsafe conditions give the rest of us a bad reputation.” — Amelia T. | Durham, NC (July 2005)
“Just read your story in the paper today….nice piece! Thanks so much for coming out and riding with us. Hope you will do it again.
And thanks again for what you are doing to promote cycling!” — Lisa S. | Cary, NC (May 2005)
“I hope you have time for a little question or two. Thanks in advance for your time. I enjoy your column in the Hearld very much.
I am a 60 yr.old male, good health, 6′, 235 lbs. I have a small amount of experience with a road bike (narrow tires, turn down bars, 20 years ago) and when at the coast, ride 14 yr. old Diamond Back Sorento (my son’s college bike)(just flat neighborhood cruising with the wife) .
I am looking to improve my condition ( loose weigh, more wind ) and will be able to ride to work, 6.9 miles. I would like to get to the point of riding 20 to 30 miles on a Saturday morning and not be completely wasted (this may be wishful thinking).
Should I go with a road bike or mountain bike, or something in between? Clipless or straps? etc.” — John M. | Durham, NC (March 2005)
“Excellent article on Waiting for trails to dry. Education is one of the most important things we can provide. I am constantly amazed at the need to spell things out to people. But we need to. Thanks for the article.” — Robin C. | Durham, NC (March 2005)
“I was in Durham this week for duke basketball and read your story in the newspaper. I have been an active cyclist in Greenville, S.C. for about 20 years and we finally got our first bike lane on a street in our downtown this year.
I would appreciate information about the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory committee. What authority, influence on decisions etc. it has, how it was established, etc.
I travel to Durham regularly as I am on an advisory committee at Duke and also have season basketball tickets. On a couple of my trips I have brought my bicycle.
Perhaps we could meet sometime when I am in Durham.
Look forward to your reply.” — Courtney S. | Greenville, SC (February 2005)
“As an avid and dedicated road cyclist, I applaud you efforts at raising local consciousness about cyclists, and making Durham more bike friendly, whatever that ridiculous term means. I want you to know, though, that there is at least one member of the local cycling community who is adamantly opposed to bicycle commuting and bike commuters, at least in the environs of Duke Medical Center and downtown. Given the state of our current roadways, this is a dangerous practice, more to be condemned than encouraged. The solitary figure hunched over handlebars negotiating with tons of steel for a few feet of pavement that you aptly describe, at least in downtown Durham and my area, is obstructing traffic, angering motorists and engendering lots of ill will towards bicyclists in general. There is currently no room for coexistence between cyclists and motor vehicle traffic in downtown Durham. This is a great area for cycling, I can still ge! t in hundreds of miles in each and every month all year round on some gorgeous roads without undue risk and delaying other folks from getting to and from work.. You mention Emerson in your piece today: if you’re on a zealot’s mission regarding bike commuting, fine, that’s your business, but Durham isn’t Portland, Seattle, or Boulder, nor will it ever be, and around these parts cycling is best reserved for the beautiful back roads and byways just minutes away. Hope to see you out there one day.” — Thomas S. | Durham, NC (February 2005)
“Excellent points. What can I do to help?” — Peter A. | Durham, NC (September 2004)
“Nice column. Don’t forget that the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) was the first part of the American Tobacco District project. It seems folks forget about this resource which offers an off-road connection the the American Tobacco Complex and the emerging downtown, for neighborhoods and businesses for a stretch of 6.5 miles to within spitting distance of I-40.
I like to think that the ATT helped make the American Tobacco Complex (ATC) happen as it was there first! It provides easy access to the ATC and downtown, and the soon to be built “Downtown Trail” which will link areas north as you describe.
I do agree that the City needs to emphasize that the wide sidewalk that is part of the Downtown Trail is a greenway by putting in stripes and wide ramps as you describe. And yes they should time this with the opening of the ATC. At the very minimum, the ATT should be recognized as an important infrastructure element to the ATC.
Thanks for the great column.” — Bill B. | Durham, NC (September 2004)
“Hi — This is in response to your column in the Herald Sun, “Bicycling can become a fun way of life.” Nice to have this addition to the paper… thanks.
I’d love to hear about how to keep my bike “tuned up.” Also, I’d really like to learn about how to deal with DOGS…. I’d ride sooooo much more if it weren’t for my fear of dogs. I’ve been on many a long ride and been charged by big, mean dogs…. scares me to death and usually spoils an entire ride for me. No kidding.
FYI: I used to ride regularly with the Carolina Tarwheels, but stopped because the 40-mile route we often took on the standing Wednesday morning rides always included dogs. Now I ride from Hope Valley Farms to Jordan Lake and back (along 751) for my “long” rides…. I’d rather deal with the big trucks and crazy traffic than dogs…. perhaps a little insane, but nevertheless, true to my fears.” — Leigh R. | Durham, NC (August 2004)
“I’ve been reading your articles on biking in the paper. I agree- North Carolina isn’t friendly to bikers in a lot of areas. I came from NJ where there were shoulders on the sides of the roads. The main roads near where I live (Mineral Springs Rd.) has big ditches and fast moving cars. for that reason I usually stick to nearby developments. It’s one way of getting some exercise !! I like to explore different places. I have colored in a map of where I’ve been.” — Mike | Durham, NC (August 2004)
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am to read about your new column. My husband and I own a house in Old West Durham but have been spending the year in Munich–bicycle heaven! I feel like I’m taking my life into my own hands when I ride my bike in Durham and hope your column raises the profile of cyclists for area drivers. Looking forward to future columns” — Lisa Y. | Durham, NC (August 2004)
“I enjoyed your column in the Herald Sun on Thursday. First, how often are you going to run in the paper? I want to make sure that I get the paper when your column is running.
I am a Geriatrics Fellow at Duke and have just gotten my mountain bike (years old) tuned so that I can ride from Ridge Rd. (between Pickett and Cornwallis) over to the VA Medical Center campus. What is my safest (and shortest) bike friendly route? Also, do you have any suggestions for being able to get to work and not look and smell like a sweaty Dr.? There is a gym available under the P2 parking deck but I am not sure even where a safe bike parking place would be. I am a bit afraid of the racks in front of the VA because of the horrible, gnarled messes that I have seen made of bikes when folks were trying to steal them from racks (am I just paranoid?).” — Dr. William L. | Durham, NC (August 2004)
“I’m glad to see your column in the Durham Morning Herald. This is a great community for cycling and we have long needed a place in the newspaper.
My wife and I have ridden on many rail to trail conversions in the US and Canada and Durham’s Tobaco Trail, while not the longest is one of the very best. We’re lucky to have it. Thank you for doing the column.” — Gene M. | Durham, NC (August 2004)
“I enjoyied reading your article about biking. I too bike to work everyday and enjoy the low cost and freedom of the air rushing past. I am a high school student so biking is an excelent way to save money. I have found that it is much cheaper than buying a car. I have a question to ask though. I recentally purchased a new Cannondale F300. I bike about 3-4 mile to work a day. During the day I leave my bike at a nearby bike rack. This week it has rained about everyday, and I noticed today that a few screws on the bike itself were begining to rush from being outside during these afternoon thunderstorms. The bike is in mint condition, and I was just wondering what I could do to eliminate the rust off a few screws. The two screws holding my handlebars to the frame are the ones that have begun to rust. I have heard that 4D-40 can get rid of rust. What do you reccommend. I look foward to hearing from you soon. Have a great weekend.” — Chris W. | Chapel Hill, NC (July 2004)
“OK, I am avidly awaiting your further columns! ARe you going to be at the BikeFest on Saturday Aug.
15, Hillsborough?” — Thomas S. | Hillsborough, NC (July 2004)
“Thanks for starting the new column in the Herald-Sun; we definitely need it. Several of the recent letters to the Steamed section have repeated the old tired response to responsible bicyclists’ concerns with complaints about irresponsible bicyclists. Can we ever get past that? I’m sure you’ll hear gripes from both sides, but you sound like you can bring a positive voice.
Here’s my own question: when I commute to work from downtown (against the flow of into-the-city traffic), I often find myself at street lights that will only be triggered by a car (especially left turn signals). Rather than wait 10 minutes for the rare car going my way, my solution is to get off the bike and walk it across the street; but even that has angered some drivers. What do you do?
Also, I’ll be going on my 2nd bicycling trip in Europe next month. It does seem to be a different experience biking in another country. Maybe a topic for a future column?” — Meg G. | Durham, NC (July 2004)
“I saw your bicycling column in today’s paper, and I look forward to your future columns. When you said, “I ride because of how it makes me feel,” I knew immediately what you meant. Bicycling has been my friend the last few years — vital to my mental and physical health.
I’ve been interested in professional cycling, from a spectator’s viewpoint, for quite some time, and I’ve followed Lance Armstrong’s miraculous journey for six years. Last year, I finally found cable’s Outdoor Life Network channel and have been able to learn the nuances of cycling by watching races from start to finish. What an interesting sport!
Of course, watching cycling so much made me want to ride, too, but circumstances of my life made riding almost mandatory.
I’ve always been athletic, but until recently, I had not owned a bike since I was a kid. And to let you know how long ago that’s been, my childhood bike was a heavy, turquoise beauty with brakes on the pedals and no fancy gears – - a far cry from today’s equipment. I’ve spent years playing recreational sports, enjoying gym memberships, and finally fitness walking. Soon walking was not enough. I needed a challenge. I wanted to push myself. I wanted to sweat. So in March, I purchased a beautiful “hybrid” performance bike with hand brakes and all those gears and a frame that is oh-so-light.
Riding this bike is pure joy. It makes me feel young again and exhilarated. With the wind in my face, I feel free. Rejuvenated!
This may sound like an exaggeration to those who do not ride, but I desperately needed an outlet, a way to survive, an escape.
Over three and a half years ago, my beloved husband suffered a serious heart attack and was left with very little energy and serious congestive heart failure. He is dying one slow day at a time before my very eyes, and as his caregiver, I was becoming very sad, very depressed.
Cycling has not stopped the pain that I feel, but it mutes it. It reconnects me with nature, my neighborhood, and with myself. It’s been like a friend. A very good friend. But I bet you already know that.
Keep writing and riding!” — Madeline M. | Durham, NC (July 2004)
“Thanks for the new column!
I just wanted to ask a question. Is it legal to ride on sidewalks? I must admit, I do. I just do not feel safe riding on the road. I guess I am also accustomed to riding on the sidewalk after having lived in Germany. There the sidewalk has two lanes, one for peds and one for bikes. Ped/bike accidents are easier to avoid–you have a chance to communicate and if you happened to have an accident the results may still be painful, but not deadly. I have gathered that the general cyclist society is for riding on the roads rather than the sidewalks. Is this true and if so, why? As a bicyclist commuter I would think it is better to ride on the sidewalk. What do you have to say and what can be done to make this leagal if it is not already?” — Carrie M. | Chapel Hill, NC (July 2004)
“I enjoyed your article this morning. Good luck with your Goals.
One question I have about biking: As a novice I have enjoyed the Tobacco Road Trail very much. But how do you decide which roads are more bike-friendly than others if you are looking to venture out where there are no bike paths? I know distance isn’t the only criteria in deciding if a route is “bikeable”.
Any list of questions I should ask myself?
Thanks very much. Safe Biking! ” — Kimberly C. | Durham, NC (July 2004)
“I’m glad to hear of your biking column. Maybe I’ll have to start taking the paper to see it. On which day will it run?
I just returned from southern Germany (the Rhine valley), where there are bikes galore. Everyone seemed to ride all over. I’m so envious! I live in Durham and work in Raleigh, so it’s really too far to ride, but I’m committed to adding more “purposeful” biking to my life, meaning shopping and visiting folks. I get the bike/ped list serve, and am hoping to contribute to making our area more bike-friendly.
Thanks for your awareness work!” — Sarah P. | Durham, NC (July 2004)
In addition to these comments, my column on exploring made its way into reading material for a course on “Nature Writing” at Pfeiffer University.
