A while ago, this was circulating on my facebook page. I’m not a person who blindly likes everything I see on there, but I did not hesitate for a split second to like this one.
Those who know me, or follow our account on twitter or facebook, probably know I ride my bike to and from work each day. I cheat a bit, because I live a good 30 km from work, so I take a train in between my two bikerides. It’s quick, fast, easy, healthy, good for the environment and your wallet. And it’s not that hard to do.
I’m not one of those manic bikers, that crawl into a spandex suit each morning and need a shower when they get to work because of the extensive workout they did. Nothing wrong with that, but that wouldn’t work for me!
No, I just ride to work in my office clothes, at a nice pace (about 16-18 km/ hour, depending on the wind). And I look around. In Eksaarde at nature, in Gent at the lovely city.
I also take in the weather, the smells of nature around. Fall smells completely different than summer, for instance. Something a lot of people don’t realise anymore. I can feel the change in temperature by a few degrees on my skin when I come outside nowadays, because I actually spend at least an hour each day in open air – it doesn’t matter if it’s 30°C and sunny or 5°C and raining.
I believe everybody should at least figure out if the bike is an alternative for at least part of their biketowork routine. You’d be amazed to feel the benefits, and realise it’s good for you, your wallet and our planet.
Last week I decided to take my camera along with me more often, and I’ve been tucking it in my bicycle bags since then. I took some pictures of my daily biketowork routine. If you’ve made it this far into my monologue: you deserve a bit of scenery to warm you up for my ideas!
Arriving in Gent in the morning. My daily feed of World Heritage: our Belfry.
I also pass by the Meatmarket each day.
And then I continue to the medieval port of Gent: Graslei / Korenlei.
Graslei / Korenlei.
Graslei / Korenlei.
The start of my biketrail in Lokeren – all the way to Eksaarde.
It’s a paved old railway. Apart from 5 road crossings: no motorised traffic.
Only silence, and nature.
This time of year, I ride home at sunset most of the days.
Amazing scenery – to forget all my daily workstress!
And remember…
-A-
How do you get to work and back? Have you ever considered a more ecological alternative? What’s holding you back? We’d love to hear your ideas!
