Ghost Bikes

Ghost bikes. Have you seen them? Today, a strangely warm Haligonian day, I had quite a bit of driving to do for work and noticed many bicycles out and about. (As a side note, have you been outside on a warm-ish fall day and felt "I could TOTALLY be practicing yoga outside today. I wish I wasn't working"? Today was one of those days. It's almost problematic where I get a vivid image of what I would be wearing, how it would feel, the air against my skin during warrior II. Distracting.).

(Ghost Bike, photo credit)

Halifax has a Ghost Bike on North Street (click here for a picture) and it honestly did seem to appear out of nowhere. A tiny traffic island right off the MacDonald Bridge and there is a painted white bicycle with a small plaque. According to the GhostBike.org site:

"Ghost bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel."

A bit of creative searching, it would appear the Ghost Bike is the result of the bicycle death of Michael Brooker in 2007. I'm not 100% sure, but it would appear a purple bicycle was locked to a telephone poll and the public participated in painting it white as a community act of memorial.

That small area isn't the best place to pull over to take a picture.

A lot has changed in the past 4 years since his death, but bicycling in Halifax is still risky business. Sustainability demands less reliance on climate changing, air polluting automobiles (did you know that acid rain has slowly been on the rise?).

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

La semaine de la bicyclette

This week is 'Bike Week' or 'La semaine de la bicyclette' as you say in 'le français'.

Recently Nova Scotia has put forward a law, to be in effect as of June 1st, that all motorists give bicyclette's at least 1 metre of room at all times (check here for a summary of Bill 93).

Now I will admit that last year I had this strange love affair with bicycles, okay honestly I still adore them. But from a lazy person's perspective. I love the IDEA of bicyclettes; how they look, how cute and funky and laid back most bicyclette-ers appear, how NO gas fumes or carbon is spewed out for a trip.

Veronica in her winter 'home'

Last summer my friend Kevin found me the most beautiful bicyclette- a vintage 1970's, almost in perfect condition, Violette Bicyclette (anyone else remember that song?) whom I have named 'Veronica'. She now has a basket, a very cute 'dring dring' bell and a funky original leather seat.

She also weighs about a gazillion tons... Veronica is a big boned violette bicyclette.

I had no idea how her tonnage could have an impact on my riding skills. All summer long I wondered why everyone else was just coasting along, arriving to yoga in the park and hardly breaking a sweat and I was huffing and puffing trailing behind them. I mean, I couldn't be that out of shape right? Maybe I was just a terrible bicyclette rider.

Then... someone pointed out that I was really hauling Veronica's massive girth around with me.

Early fall last year poor Veronica obviously couldn't handle my extra weight and she busted an inner tube. She's been hanging out in our apartment entryway ever since.

Today, in honour of 'la semaine de la bicyclette' Andrew and I walked down to MEC and bought TWO inner tube tires. Unfortunately, as Veronica is a rare and mature specimen, the inner tube tires are also quite rare and unusual. I have no idea if they will fit... thank goodness our friends Jen and Chris are coming over to demonstrate how to change the tire (update: they fit! Although the lesson on changing was valuable, I am so glad Chris was there to help).

Tomorrow will be the second only 'Yoga in the Park' since the season started and I cannot wait. I am going to slug my way there, huffing and puffing, and enjoy a beautiful yoga practice while listening to the powerful waves of the Atlantic ocean.

How are you going to use your bicyclette this week?

Oil-Independence Plan Brainstorming

 The ocean yesterday morning during our 'Elemental' YITP

Summer is the perfect time to unplug from our computers, cell phones, televisions (if you have one!;) ) and reconnect with our community of friends, family and surroundings (for all my Southern Hemisphere readers who are enjoying winter, sorry for the Northern preference!).

Andrew listens to 'Democracy Now' via podcast while he walks to work everyday and was playing it on his computer this morning. I got to listen how there are thousands of inactive and abandoned oil wells that pose a very real threat to the ocean and our precious water source. On top of the gazillions of oil gushing out of the current BP disaster.

In the face of such huge challenges, it could be easy to feel hopeless.

At the same time- who requires the use of this oil? We do. We as a society are oil driven.

So, how do we break the habit? Summer is the perfect time to take the first (or next!) steps towards decreasing our dependence on oil.

My goal for the summer months? Whenever possible, get around the city via feet or bicycle. So far I have been somewhat successful at biking and walking places. I'm far from perfect, but instead of thinking in 'all or nothings' I'm trying small steps. Achieving gradual goals so my oil dependence becomes a manageable Life Change.

First I'll share my specific goals and achievements, then we'll see if we can brainstorm some ways for you to start breaking the oilwell habit.

Lisa's Oil-Independence Plan:

1. Walk to and from work at least 4x a week. During the winter months I was working a 20 minute drive outside the city every Wednesday. So my 35-40 minute walk to and from work actually only happened about 3x a week. Since June, however, I no longer make that trip outside the city and I've been walking every day of the week! (and our new place is about 15 minute walk instead of 40! yay!). I will admit that walking in snow and rain storms are not very fun, but they've become a sort of adventure... and actually happen less often than you'd think. The weather must like my eco-walks :)
2. Bicycle to Yoga in the Park each week. You'd be surprised, biking to the park actually took 25 minutes there and about 45 minutes back due to my incredible lack of leg strength and usual whiny-ness. From our new place it only takes about 15 minutes and is so much easier! Status: we've driven to the park for yoga twice only so far. Both times because of rain (although that didn't stop our yoga!).
3. Bicycle to get groceries or go to yoga classes-events evenings and weekends. The groceries biking hasn't happened yet, even after I was gifted a kick-butt basket. Le sigh. I still hold out hope. Biking to yoga class also hasn't happened other than the Great Canadian Yoga Stretch Event. We *have* however, biked to coffee shops and just around for fun. The biggest obstacle by far has been my paranoia with locking up the bike outside of the building. I need to figure out a way around either letting go the fear of getting my bike stolen so I can actually enjoy my practice or invest in a ridiculously awesome bike lock. Thoughts?

Those are my major goals and results. Not perfect, we still use the car to go to the mall or do large errands, but this week we didn't use the car once until Saturday morning to get to YITP (in the rain).

Here are some other days for different life circumstances:

Non-children peeps who don't live far from work:

• not walking to work yet? Choose two days a week that you'll start walking to work. You could even plan according to the weather each week to encourage optimal experience. You'll notice an immediate difference in your parking bills and peace of mind.
• invest in a second hand bicycle if you don't have one already. Biking in the city really doesn't have to be life threateningly scary. Seriously. :) You can find a crap-o bike on Kijiji or craiglist easy!
• Decide to bike to one even per week. Maybe this means on the weekend when you can choose non-rush hour times to bike. Or an evening yoga class. Plan your route in advance on Google (Sadly, Canada does not have Google-Bike maps... but the USA does. I am so jealous).
• Already biking on weekends? Add one event during the week that you'll start biking to.

Eco-Yogi(ni)s sans children who do live far from work

• choose one or two events during the evenings that you can walk or bike to. 
• Decide that you will bicycle to one thing during the weekend. Commit in advance to this place or event and plan your timing and afternoon accordingly. You'll be less likely to punk out :)
• Look into public transit or carpooling to work.
• Accept that at this time you may not have a lot of carpooling-public transit options, but you can try decreasing your dependence on oil in other times and places. :)

Eco-Yogi(ni)s who have ecoyogi(ni)-lets! (ahem, children)

• Choose an evening during the week where instead of watching TV or playing video games you're all going for a walk as a family. Summer months mean later sunsets and more time to walk. Even if it's for a short walk around the block. Maybe not choosing a goal so that it's not that big of a deal when it takes a bit longer. Less rush equals more fun and more learning.
• Go for a family bike ride. Even if it means you're walking along side your child's bicycle on the sidewalk. These outings can also be sans-goal, allowing you to take the time your child needs to enjoy and learn from the experience. 
• Also- talking about walking to an errand instead of driving teaches a valuable lessen to your child about vehicle use. 
• As adults we may not really 'see' our surroundings when we're walking to a destination, but for children this experience is all about learning and exploring. It's the perfect opportunity to teach new vocabulary and language to your child (verbs- walking, running, stopping, adjectives like colours, size, prepositions, descriptives etc etc). 

**NB: I think the key for increasing walking and biking with families is to choose times where you accept that it will take longer to accomplish the event. Less time-limitations will allow for you to enjoy the experience for what it is: a learning experience for your child.

Also- please recognize the physical limitations of children and how much walking their little bodies can handle. They are not adults and heat can have terrible physiological consequences. I shouldn't have to say this- but hats and sunscreen are essential even on cloudy days and Hot Yoga is not appropriate for a 4 year old. :)

Container ship that looked like a floating island in the fog... very cool.

Any other ideas on taking small no-car steps?

Blessings !


article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Yoga and the Soul Sucking of Environmental Activism

 Our evening spontaneous bike ride to Yoga in the Park tonight... even though it was humidex of 35 degrees... Andrew is a good sport :)

 

Yoga... connection and spirit. I've mentioned in passing how Yoga is a way for me to connect with my belief in the Divine Goddess. A commenter once asked me how I do that... or why or something. It's just like moving prayer. Seane Corn speaks about how her yoga practice is like praying with movement. During my practice I connect with myself, my surroundings, my Earth and my Goddess. I dedicate each movement with awareness to Her. 

My new 'zoya' eco-friendly yogi toes... and the sail boats :)

 

Maybe that's a bit weird... but I have a funny feeling lots of yogi(ni)s begin purely physical and with time connect with their inner selves which in turns transforms their practice into something a bit more spiritual.

what downward dog looked like tonight... although it was upside down for me

 

Being an environmentalist, or Planet Addict, kinda goes against all the yogic connection in a sense. There is a lot to be worried-angry-upset-sad about lately when it comes to the health of our Mother Earth. What Ted Grand mentioned last week, about feeling like being an activist was eating away at his soul (or something like that) and how Yoga helped focus his energies in a positive manner... that resonated with me. And it didn't.


I think it's a fine balance to let go of what moves us to make change. 


And fellow Yogi(ni)s, we are in need of a change. It is Time. Ya know? The pictures of the oil gushing for miles and miles in our precious ocean, the ridiculous amounts of plastic being dumped into landfills to languish *forever*, the chemicals we expose ourselves and our children that cause cancer, developmental disorders and health risks, genetically manipulating our food, peak oil.... ok I could go on.

on the ride home... self bicycling shadow

So ya, I'm not really a fan of directing my 'love' vibes as a way to direct my eco-energy. I believe that change happens through action, through some sort of activism, through strong energy and motivated passionate people. 

However.


So much negative energy truly *is* soul-sucking (kinda like Eric on True Blood... sigh... oh Eric...). It's extremely important not to let yourself become a cynical, burned out ecoyogi(ni)... you've heard them around 'I've been fighting climate change forever...' or 'those capitalist b*%st#rds will never change!'.... etc.

The train getting in our way...

 

We need hope, we need passion and we need love... all while keeping up the good fight.  Which is why I shy away from posting really down posts, like how the oil spill is spewing out of control, or how our use of gas-burning transportation is eating up our air, or how our addiction to consumption is trashing our planet. You'd have to live in a hole to not be cognizant that our actions are basically 'shitting where we live'. You know that. 

We just need to take a step back and realize that maybe it's time to do the difficult changes. Not just replace our cleaning supplies with vinegar and water, or buy eco-friendly beauty products, or switch to CFL lightbulbs. The Big Stuff. Like decrease our driving and walk-bike more. Decrease our plastic consumption and shop at the farmer's market (or CSA). Buy Less Stuff. Seriously. Invest in renewable energy to power your home. Ya know. Hard stuff.


Letting go of material wants and my external self does not mean disconnecting from what makes our world beautiful. My inner Light connects with the Light of the Sacred Earth... which forces me to recognize how each of our actions will influence the whole.

There are ways to be Eco-Warriors (Eco-Vira's) without exploding into fiery phoenix's of negative energy. We simply need to find that path.


You with me? :)


article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Sustainable Yoga Week 1; Sivananda Yoga (or something like that) and CTV Downward Dog Butt

Thanks everyone for the input and thoughts on various yoga mats! I have my solution, but I'm going to wait until Mr. Crumbles replacement comes in to chat about it. Keep the thoughts coming in- I'd LOVE to hear about your mats and experience. :)

Week 1 of 'Bike Sustainably to Yoga Class' has ended with minimal mishaps (as in I survived bicycling on the road). So far this challenge has been WAY easier than 'yoga every day'... and boy have I been enjoying NOT having to practice every night. Ya know what though... I kinda feel like I'm missing something- weird.

In any case, as I mentioned, Thursday I attended my first Sivananda class (with the embarrassment mat who shall remain nameless... cough-MrCrumbles-cough). My plan: to walk to The Yoga Loft straight from work with a fellow yogini- L. It wasn't too bad, we arrive SUPER early, sat in the studio and chatted.

I had no idea really what to expect. I read the description online but my research ended there. It was developed by Swami Vishnudevananda in India... and that's about all that I can gather. The International Sivananda Website along with The Yoga Loft's description is pretty darn vague and maybe for a reason? I was a little nervous, as I am for all my new yoga class experiences. 

It was *very* different from any type of yoga class I've ever attended. We moved in 'slow-mo' (practicing my dance moves!) which was difficult and in my opinion not done enough in most yoga classes. I love moving mindfully, but at the end of this class my muscles had been clenched for so long that it was painful. My back muscles STILL hurt from Thursday's class.

There was no flow, which I found a bit sad (and practiced 'letting go' of my yoga expectations), after the class I felt ready to actually *flow*. The teacher- Paul- was fantastic and extremely approachable after class. When I mentioned how it was my first Sivananda experience he muddied up the waters even further by saying 'Well I just teach 'yoga', and really every class is different- sometimes we flow, sometimes we don't'. Alright. Now I have even less knowledge about the tradition...

As L. and I left the building I got ready to walk home in the misty misty fog... and heard the little 'beep beep' of my car horn. Yep, Andrew had driven over and waited patiently in order to give me a ride home. Aww... so cute, except this was my *sustainable* yoga week! The first thing I said (ungrateful me) was 'but I'm supposed to WALK home today!'. Le sigh. What could I do, he'd been so thoughtful. So class 1 was 50% sustainable.

This Saturday I attended the four hour Great Canadian Yoga Stretch finale event. I almost punked out- until the organizer emailed me confirming my attendance. Yep, I am a sucker for peer pressure.

I got up at 7am on Saturday morning, donned my classy bicycling helmet and rode my yoga butt over. I was a bit nervous that since it was only advertised through one studio (as we know that Halifax studios don't communicate well with each other), that it would be a 'one-studio lovefest'. It kinda was, but it was fun nonetheless.

AND I was a super 'eco' geek which caused a bit of embarrassment on my part. The organizer (who is ridiculously kind and friendly) proudly handed me a plastic bag containing paper hand outs, a plastic bottle of water and other trinkets. I had a moment of 'Ahhh sh*#, what do I do?' followed by: 

'Umm, not to be a total weirdy, but is it alright if I don't accept this? Thank you very much for offering gifts, but I'm kinda an eco-geek and not really a fan of plastic bags or bottled water. Thank you very much though'.  

She didn't even blink an eye. Looking around the room though, I was a bit disappointed with all the plastic bottled water, plastic bags and lack of composting facilities to put my eaten apple.

Randomly people started showing up taking pictures for local papers and such... and then a camera guy showed up for the local tv station and started filming at the BACK of the class. We all know what posture he managed to capture right? And who was in the last row? Yep, my parents and cousin actually facebooked me last night to announce that they had seen my downward dog butt on tv. Great.

Bicycling back home (Andrew was not in fact there to pick me up) was not very pleasant. Lots of traffic+ rubbery four hours of yoga legs+ really steep Chebucto Road= walking my bicycle. I tried really hard to do the whole 'I am a vehicle, I will not hug the curb, I am a vehicle...' mantra but the cars just kept squeezing by! I actually had to take a nap when I got back I was so exhausted. (I have no idea what will happen to me when I have children... yes I know).

So that's my week 1! I have realized that should I bike to certain studios they either don't have bike racks out front or they do and I don't feel comfortable leaving my bike out there unattended... This is going to be an issue I'll have to resolve (i.e. take off my dringdring bell). It's going to feel kinda like when you park illegally and 'hopehopehope' that when you come out you don't have a ticket...


Any Sivananda Yogis out there?? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)


Blessings!


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Sustaina-Yoga Adventure and a Trip to Saint John NB

I am a sucker for punishment. Seriously. 

I have a new goal for June. Yep- June 1st, I get a little tweet from Yogaglo asking me what my June challenge will be. Kinda like what happened with the Great Canadian Yoga Stretch, May 1st got an email asking if I'd like to participate. Since I'd already practiced in the park that day I thought 'why not?' (nope, not more planning than that...).

My 'June Yoga Adventure': yoga-hop different studios in the city and get there in a sustainable fashion. No exceptions. Guidelines:

• At least one studio class a week (maybe two, but my budget might kibosh that).
• New instructor or style is a must (this will help my yoga-growth)
• I have to bike, walk or bus there. Carpooling does not count as sustainable.
• Sustainable yoga also includes 'Yoga in the Park' on the weekends (oh my legs will be STEEL by the end of June!).

I'm hoping this will result in more opportunities to get used to biking to appointments or errand-type activities in the city. It should also help shift this reliance on using my little jelly bean (car). As the oil spill worsens to catastrophic proportions, the time has passed for us to pretend that our gas and oil lifestyles can be balanced by recycling. We need a new way of life.

This week I will be attending a Sivananda level 1 class at the Yoga Loft (Thursday). I'll walk there after work with another fellow yogini. I've never tried Sivananda before and am excited!


With regards to the GCYS challenge, I can proudly announce that I reached my goal with *one* exception... One day of 31 I had to curl up in a little ball as the monthly moon pains were so severe I barely made it through work. Otherwise, every other day was a minimum 30 minute if not 45-60min practice!


Thanks to all your kind support and generous donations we have raised 520$ for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind!!! This is the first time in my life I have ever done something like this, and I am so proud of myself and the giving Karma of my lovely readers. I am touched by your generosity and community. Many Blessings to all of you!


So who's with me on the Sustaina-Yoga Adventure? I know that Rachel, you bike to Yoga every day- any advice for myself and other Sustaina-Yogis? :)

Blessings!

And just for fun, lets all go on a vacation to Saint John, New Brunswick! To set the stage- Saint John is the oldest confederation city in Canada (1700's I think..).

A typical street in Saint John (the street where Andrew and I met four years ago!) Not grid-like, the streets twist and turn up and down hills. Although not an actual island, SJ is right on the Atlantic ocean. Which means that the temperature was 14 degrees celcius that day and a wall of fog surrounded the city... waiting for the sun to set (like The Mist...).

The fog at the end of Princess Street. A bridge was actually in that fog, a few hundred feet away...

Andrew's old apartment building (I lived in the 'carriage house' next door. Yep, it was SKETCHY. Thank goodness for great neighbours!)

A typical street in Saint John. Lots of brick!

My favourite part of New Brunswick- the bilingual stop signs! The only "officially" bilingual province in Canada, I love how all signage is in French and English. 

Can you pick out the imposter?? :)

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Veronica and Me and our Bicycling Adventure

Today marks day 1 of 'Bike Week Halifax' which is super convenient because now I am 'le ready'.

Let two weeks go by and the difference a few 'safety' videos make! I am now officially a City Bicyclist Extraordinaire. From country mouse to city slicker, oh yeah! How did this happen, you ask? Well...

Veronica and me all ready for Yoga in the Park! Please disregard crooked helmet...

The biggest revelation was this ridiculously awesome bike safety videos (Part 1, Part 2) over at An Adventure Called Bicycling (a must site with awesome tips and photos). Best tip ever: I am a vehicle on the road. OHHHHh....! So don't hug the curb eh? I can do that.

Also, Veronica has officially been 'pimped' and is now sporting a beautiful bell and basket, which I heart very much.

 I love my new DringDring Bell, it is very loud and beautiful!

The bell is from 'dringdring', a Canadian (Montréalais) company that hand paints with non-toxic paint and glaze metal bells. This one is a limited edition Art Deco style that you can't order online (I assume, since I emailed the owner- in FRENCH I might add, but she just never emailed me back... lame), which I was ecstatic to find in a local bike store on Friday. I was so excited in fact, that I marched up to the cashier dude and announced: 'I found my bell!' (he didn't quite understand my level of Joy...).

The basket was a gift from awesome friends Heather and Kevin, who found the perfect metal basket from the Superstore for 7$. It is perfect.

 This Saturday Andrew, Kevin and I biked down to the park to practice yoga (and were joined by four others). I was able to bring my water, snacks AND a yoga block in my basket. Pedaling down the busy streets, I confidently used my three feet of road, going in the left or through lanes in intersections and even used the correct hand signals! 

Riding back from the park, however was a different story altogether. I have found out that the ride from our apartment to Point Pleasant Park is just slightly downhill, which is perfect. Unfortunately, after an hour of practicing in the hot sun, the ride back against crazy maritime wind and slightly uphill is NOT fun. 

By the time we reached about 10 blocks away I made Andrew get off his bike and we walked the remainder. My legs felt like jelly. Hah. Mental note: strong yoga-walking legs do not equal strong biking legs. Also, eco-sunscreen is a new must.

I am no longer afraid of biking in the city. Now if only I can swallow the whole '45 minutes to get anywhere on a bike' and 'paranoia that someone will steal my beautiful Veronica and her Bell' issues....

  Our 'Yoga in the Park' bikes and Kevin! We actually had one more join the crew afterwards! Four Bicycling Yogis

View of the sailboats from my mat

Andrew skipping rocks pre-yoga

How goes your bicycling adventure?
(ps- Happy Long Weekend my American Eco-Yogi-nis!)

Article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com 

Sounding out the Bell for Bicycling

Recently A Green Spell posted about her struggles and adventures as a bicyclist. After a year of wishing and dreaming about how "green" I would be *ifIjusthadabike*, I finally have joined the bicyclist club. Am I biking? Nope.

First off, why do I feel that bicycling is an important step in my earth-friendly yogic lifestyle.

At this point in our society we can safely say that oil-gas reliance is going to be increasingly difficult. Peak Oil, the point where we slowly (or quickly) run out of oil-gas resources, if it already hasn't, is arriving. Decreasing our consumption of an energy source that is finite is a necessity- we won't have a choice at one point. Therefore, the more I'm used to using alternative means of transportation (like walking and bicycling) the easier it will be.

After the most recent oil spill disaster, our addiction to oil is damaging our planet and our health. Every time we use our cars, our oil power sources, plastic we are eroding the air we breathe and our most important water source: the ocean. 


Every time I step on my mat to practice yoga, I thank the Goddess for my health, my family and dedicate my practice to enhancing my connection with each link in our cycle. There is no way I could spend all this time recognizing and validating our interconnectedness and turn around in the next moment and damage this very circle.


So why am I not biking ALL the time?


One huge reason: the weather. It's been cold, rainy and chilly most every evening these past few weeks. Instead of hopping on our bikes to go to the coffee shop or get groceries, we're chickening out and taking the car.

Yoga in the Park last night at our new location and you guessed it- we drove

Another reason is the shear amount of time it actually takes to bike around Halifax. We avoid main routes due to traffic. Andrew and I are both unwilling to risk our lives just to get to a coffee shop- Halifax isn't the most bicycle friendly city, cars drive and park in the bike only lanes. So we take quieter roads, which results in a 45 minute bike ride just to get to the park. I'm sure with practice we'll find better routes... but riding our bikes requires time and planning.

Finally, I still don't have a basket for my bicycle. I have a basket rack, which is a step and it was quite flattering to see all the Bikes by Dave people drooling over my vintage beauty... However, I kinda need a basket to carry stuff (like groceries) and I really don't feel like spending a ton of money. Ideas?


Obviously these are excuses, we need an ACTION PLAN for bicycling. I'm also hoping that maybe our awesome bloggy-community can help support each other in our adventure at changing our habits and our lives.


Lisa and Andrew's Bicycling Action Plan 2010:

• Find a basket. This is essential.
• Map out regular bicycling routes in advance, print them out and have them ready for perusal at any given date. This way, when we want to go biking, the route will be already planned out.
• Plan to bike at least once a weekend. This will decrease overwhelming feeling of needing to bike ALL the time, and allow for practice!
• Attend a Critical Mass in Halifax. Cuz it's cool.
• Get a really COOL bell:

• DringDring bells are made in Montreal, hand painted using non-toxic solvents and water based paints and are NOT plastic!! I want one. (image from dringdring site)

Any other ideas for our biking plan? Suggestions for this wimpy, wannabe biker?

**UPDATE: Thanks to Environmental Soul for pointing out this ridiculously awesome Bicycling resource: "An Adventure Called Bicycling". This woman is AWESOME and I ADORE her videos on bicycle safety (especially that she put Daft Punk in there!) Her tips on Commuter Biking are also great. Seriously, go check it out!


Blessings!


article and photograph (unless otherwise noted) copyright EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com