2 Mile Challenge

SANY0005
Originally uploaded by ClifBar&Co

The 2 Mile Challenge is an excellent idea that I happened to stumble across on the internets. As the site states “40% of United States urban travel is 2 miles or less. Ride your bike to fight global warming.”

Their site draws a two-mile circle around your house using Google Maps and challenges you to make all the trips inside that circle by car bicycle (or by foot).

Global warming aside, if you and your neighbors take this concept to heart the quality of life and land values in your neighborhood are going to soar. It’s going to be a lot quieter without all the cars moving, you’re going to be a lot thinner burning all those calories moving yourself, and things will be a lot safer because you’ll have pedestrians doubling as crime watchdogs and deterrents. Not to mention the enhanced sense of awareness you’ll have by eliminating the glass shield between you and your surroundings.

I already engage in this practice, do you? With the soaring cost of gas, what do you have to lose?

Update: Brian Head was the first reader to point out that I advocated using cars for short trips on accident, instead of long ones.  I need to quit writing at 4 a.m.