Bicycles are a cheap, environmentally friendly and easily repairable mode of transportation that also provide great physical exercise. They may not have the metal walls and tinted-glass fancifulness of a car (as a writer pointed out in a letter to the editor titled “Bicycles don’t belong in city traffic”), but this only serves to enhance the rider’s connection to the outside world — something we could all benefit from.
In fact, I believe that bicycles are an excellent vehicle for working-class individuals. They can be much cheaper to own and maintain than cars, and riders more often have the power to fix them themselves without having to visit expensive repair shops. Bicycles are perfect for leisurely commutes around the city. When the weather gets bad, bikers can mount their bikes to a CTA bus and get safely where they’re going.
