I know that many people who love to ride bicycles also love to drive cars, but have you ever considered how unusual it is to drive somewhere to ride your bike?
I recall telling one of my friends back in college about a great bike ride that I had earlier on that week, several years ago. I described in grandiose terms the trail I rode on, the vegetation that surrounded me for the 15 or so miles of converted railway that I was using, and the people that I had seen, finishing up with a brief mention of the trip back home in my car. My friend, an avid fitness enthusiast, was interested in cycling, and immediately responded with a place that would be really fun to ride, just a long as I was "okay with driving somewhere to ride my bicycle".
At this point, I realized that there was another way, that I could simply ride my bicycle to the bike trail, but I was worried about traffic! I had talked myself out of the possibility of cycling the mile and a half to the closest trail access to my home, reasoning that the traffic was excessive, cars were going too fast to chance it, there were no sidewalks and insufficient curb, and it was all in all a poor choice. I was afraid to ride my bicycle on the open road because I didn't want to be hit by a car, but I was driving a car to ride a bike.
In any case, that got me thinking, and I decided to try cycling to the trail access the next weekend, and it was fine. I was safe, never struck, and I learned that the last mile and a half, after a 30 or 60 mile conditioning day, was a great way to cool down and relax before whatever activities I had planned for the evening. From then on, I try not to drive anywhere within easy riding distance if I'm planning to cycle when I get there, I just bike instead!
