We had an inspiring visit from some friends from Seattle this weekend. These friends, who have two young kids, made a car-free trip from Seattle to Portland using the train and their bikes. Amtrak allows you to take bikes on the train (for a $5 fee), so, upon their arrival in Portland, they rode the two and a half miles from the train station to our house. Their oldest son rode his own bike, while their younger son rode on a ride-along. And they didn’t just hang out at our house or catch a ride with us to see the sights. They rode their bikes to our local science museum, OMSI, to see the new Star Wars exhibit, crossed the bridge to our downtown Waterfront Park, and even found time for some shopping at Lloyd Center and the Pearl District. As they were riding away to catch their train back home, my wife and I had pangs of jealousy because we knew how much fun a trip like this could be. We both vowed to make a similar trip to Seattle soon.

Bike trips are much easier and safer when you have the right equipment, and our friends came decked out with a cool assortment of gear. Most of it they already owned, but they borrowed this aerodynamic trailer, which is designed to do the heavy lifting, like carrying an overweight duffle bag. I’m not sure I could ever justify buying one of these, so I need to get my mooching antenna working and find someone around here who owns one. Panniers are the other essential accessory to have for traveling. While common among the bike commuting crowd, panniers are not an item typically owned by the casual rider. Panniers hang on either side of the front or rear wheels and are great for carrying smaller loads, including small backpacks, briefcases or groceries.

As I have reported frequently on this site, the Seattle that our friends returned to is in the midst of a significant debate about alternative transportation options. Sunday’s Seattle Times examines the current state of biking in the city. As the article details, the city is facing a transportation quagmire in the coming decades and is finally coming the conclusion that biking may be part of the solution. The problem is that much needs to be done to make the city more hospitable for cyclists. We are well aware of and grateful for Portland’s status as a renowned bike-friendly city, but I was surprised to learn about the significant disparity in bike lanes and paths between the two cities. Seattle does have a long way to go, and, given the size and pace of the city relative to Portland, the road will not be easy.

Two other observations from the article are worth noting. First, the references to Critical Mass make for a more interesting story, but really confuse the issue for people unfamiliar with the biking world. Getting people out of their cars and on to bikes is not a movement; no one is oppressed here. The whole point is that riding your bike can be a practical alternative to driving. The last thing I want to see is a cyclist stopping traffic. The Cascade Bicycle Club’s 6,500 members are a sufficient political constituency to bring about change. Nobody has to go to jail. Plus, no sane cyclist would want to antagonize the car people. People in cars can easily make life miserable for those of us on bikes, and I enjoy the courtesy that most drivers currently show me.

Second, the author did a great job highlighting the nerve-racking experience of trying to ride in traffic. Like the bike advocate in the article, I can state unequivocally that every cyclist must learn to ride in the middle of car traffic. But marshalling the courage to do it is a rite of passage. While this may seem counterintuitive, riding in the middle of traffic is both legal and often the safest way to navigate city traffic. Bike lanes are full of all sorts of hazards, including car doors opening without notice and right-turning cars oblivious to the existence of a bike lane and anyone who might be traveling in that lane. When you ride in the middle of the road and observe the rules of the road, every car knows that you are there and can anticipate what you will do. They may be annoyed, but they won’t hit you. As I like say to my wife when we ride our bikes around town, "if you are going to be in the road, be in the road." Once you master riding in traffic, you do feel a new sense of power and confidence on your bike, and you don’t have to go to jail to experience it.