I traveled the world a lot in 2006, partly with
Paul Anka and orchestra,
and also for several trade shows. The highlight of this was the
beginning of the European leg of the Paul Anka tour, which began in
Amsterdam ,
where we had several days off. This is a magnificent city, for two
reasons at least. The first, and one that many of you pick up on at
the mere mention of Amsterdam, is that the sale of Cannabis is legal.
But what's more interesting is their open-mindedness about whatever vice one
might seek. I noticed a lineup of stores, including: a cafe, a
bar, a bakery, a coffee shop, and a brothel. Pick your vice:
caffeine, alcohol, sugar, cannabis, or sex. It's all equal to them,
and certainly harmless in moderation. Now THAT is forward thinking.
The second wonderful trait of Amsterdam is the opportunity for the
car-free lifestyle. Despite some rather horrid weather due to
proximity to the North Sea, the majority of people in Amsterdam ride
bicycles to get around. Encouraging the move towards bicycling is the
lack of parking for many cars, the high gas prices, the compact size of the
city, and also the huge network of bikeways. I rented a bike for three
days and rode all around the city. Besides the fact that there is no
better way to people-watch, I saw much more of the city than I could either
by foot or by car. And I witnessed the car-free lifestyle first hand:
mothers with cargo bikes and several toddlers and bags of groceries passing
me, couples riding together one one bike, singles commuting to work.
It's leisurely, quiet, calming, like no other place I've been.
I've always been a bit of a bike commuter, in high school, in college,
and afterwards, but I was inspired to move as far towards the car-free
lifestyle as I could. No, I won't be riding down to Disney Hall for a
gig, but for all other errands, you bet I'm pedaling. I live in Los
Angeles, with one of the nicest climates in the world. I live in the
suburbs, where the traffic is not a nightmare, and alternate routes abound.
I live close to work and local shopping. When I returned from my
travels, and gas had jumped to $3.50 a gallon, the tipping point was
reached, and now I pedal everywhere. I've even ridden to a few gigs.
Yes, in the local mountains, it takes a bit of fortitude to climb the hills
with a load of groceries, but it's easier than anyone (including me) might
think. Do it a few times and you'll be in fine shape.
It's not just any bike I'm riding, and that's the point of this article.
The equipment I now own has changed my life. It may be a
world-changing technology, and I'll illustrate it here:
This is the Xtracycle
You can read much more about this device at
Xtracycle.com.
The simple version is this: This is a kit that bolts onto an existing
bike. It extends the wheelbase, allowing a large carrying space for
cargo or a passenger, without affecting the handling of the bike. It's
like having a hitch-less trailer, but the capacity is always with you.
You can do any errands and pick up anything you need without worrying about
a pack, a messenger bag, panniers, or a trailer. It's an S.U.B:
A Sport Utility Bike.
The founder of Xtracycle was working in the third world and
found that even though bicycles were available, they weren't useful as a
transportation solution. Even our town bikes are based on racing
designs, so carrying a passenger or cargo is beyond their scope. And
big cargo bikes and tricycles are expensive and unwieldy. He designed
this kit to reuse an old bike and turn it into a useful tool for business.
Now Xtracycle sells this high-end version in the US, and teaches people in
Kenya and Senegal to make their own, through the
WorldBike Foundation.
For those of you who play trombone and need to zip around
town, either to high school or college or wherever, please know this:
There is no way to get anywhere that is nearly as fun as is getting there by Xtracycle. I haven't driven to the grocery store in months. I
ride to the post office, the dry cleaners, the bank, the hardware store, the
printer, the drug store, the bike shop, the office, and anywhere I need to go in the local
area. Except for far reaching jaunts across greater Los Angeles, I am
car-free.
This bike has changed my life. Want to see something
cool? Go to
Xtracycle.com, and watch the two slides shows, called "Practical" and
"Magical". They are truly magnificent.
