I ride rather than drive...

I retired a year ago and after commuting in my car for way too many years, I didn't want to drive anymore. Certainly not to the local stores and businesses. My car had an average of 40mpg which decreased to 28mpg once I started doing only short trips around town. I knew it was bad for the environment.

I purchased an electric bike, with a throttle power mechanism. I wanted to get the maximum exercise possible but be able to get some assist on hills because I had trashed my knee years earlier on my mountain bike. My mountain bike has been sitting in the garage two years, unridden, because of my bad knee.  The e-bike was something my doctor felt was a good compromise. I found one built in the USA, which made me even happier.

I outfitted the bike with a cargo carrying capacity of up to 70 lbs and now I even do Costco runs on the bike.  I love the easy parking, not having to find my car keys, and the savings on gas. I've put $20 gas in my car in the last 5 months! I just use it when I go somewhere with other people. Eventually, I hope to sell it and use car sharing.

I live in the Bay Area and it's a gorgeous place to ride. More trails and paths would be nice, but who can complain when they can bike by the ocean and look at the Golden Gate Bridge?

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