Biking to work is a tip that comes up often in green circles. And in theory, I think it’s a great idea. I don’t particularly like cars or the fumes they produce or their use as status symbols (at least in Southern California), and I like the idea of making the commute real exercise. So in theory? Good tip.

In practice, I will never ever ever bike to work. Not only do I live rurally and off a scary highway (and work at home), but I’m not a great bicyclist and I know it. My brother is a great bicyclist and has been injured multiple times, not only by cars, but by other people on bikes. And we went to the funeral for his brother-in-law, who was killed while on a bike by a drunk driver. I just read Collecting the Door Prize, which details the bike accident of a freelance writer and subsequent major problems, which just quadruples my resistance to biking.

Biking may be part of the solution, but you’re going to need a whole lot of education to improve car-bike safety, and a whole lot of bike paths.