the two mile bike challenge

Here's a cool idea for urbanites: Clif Bar (you know, those yummy super-healthy energy bars) has issued a 2 mile challenge encouraging people to bike instead of drive for destinations within a two-mile radius. Since 40% of urban travel falls within that circle, this could cut down on a lot of car trips and carbon emissions.

Their website offers all sorts of options for personalizing your challenge, from getting a bike to tricking out a bike (my husband's favorite!) to committing to ride or becoming a bike ambassador. It also enables you to map your two miles and see the radius from your house. That was an eye-opener for me (is the Edgewood shopping center really within two miles of my house?) and can give you nice ideas for rides and destinations.

And, of course, if you're in downtown Atlanta, don't forget this great map (pdf) to help you plan your trip, which color codes roads in midtown and downtown according to their bikeability.

I've found that in Georgia heat, three miles out is my absolute limit for a ride, but two miles should be very doable even for lazy me, especially now that September is cooling things off a bit.