I've been wanting to do a Bike of the Week feature for a while, so I thought that Bike Month would be a good time to start. Sometimes it will be a bike that we sell or build, sometimes it will be a customer's bike, and sometimes it will be just whatever shiny object catches my attention that day. Here's the first one:

This is Donald's bike. I chose it as our bike of the week because it's a pretty good representation of one kind of bike (and rider) that will benefit from better bike infrastructure here in the city. In this case, it hardly even matters what kind of bike it is, because the noteworthy thing is really the person riding it.

Donald is retired and doesn't own a car. He travels all around the city, supplementing his income by loading this beast up with salvage of various kinds, which explains the multitude of baskets and carrying whatnots that are attached. One time I asked him what was in the coolers . . . and he answered by ticking off a long list of tools that he carried with him at all times (just in case you thought he was harvesting organs or something—I have to admit I wondered). Anyway, believe me when I tell you that this mean boy weighs a ton. It's unladen in this picture, since he had it in for maintenance and took pity on me, who had to horse it around the shop order to repack the headset. Usually it's packed with enough stuff to make you wonder how he turns the pedals over. It's a good old West Greenville bike, and he's a good old West Greenville guy, who rides around in any weather or light conditions, taking the hand that he's been dealt as he cruises.

I really look forward to living in a Greenville of the future that respects Donald's decision to make his transportation the pedal-powered kind. We face the same issues that a lot of communities do—see this Urban Velo article on our uphill neighbor, Asheville. There are also budget battles happening everywhere—see Bicycle Design taking a jaunt into advocacy for an evenhanded take on the most recent local issue.

When these kinds of roadblocks and obstacles crop up, or when you consider just how far we have to go to approach that more connected and sustainable future, it's easy to get discouraged or cynical about the process. It is for me, anyway. On the other hand, I've found something that is great for dispersing those dark clouds: a bike ride. Just like this morning's, when I took the Swamp Rabbit Trail to work on its inaugural weekend, with my 4-year-old in tow. 

It's May. It's Bike Month and the weather is beautiful. There are hundreds of people riding that trail this weekend who might not have taken their bikes down off the garage wall otherwise, not to mention all of the runners and walkers and otherwise active people. Sometimes the best thing to do is forget about everything else except how much fun the ride is. Enjoy it out there, everyone . . .