Day 1: First day, first dilemma. This morning, I needed to take my three-year-old to story time at the library and then go get my allergy shot. The problem? The locations are on opposite sides of town, neither in walking distance. It hardly seemed right to kick off this "walking" week by hopping in my van the first chance I got. I had to get creative.

Since my husband was at home, we decided he would take our younger daughter to story time on his bike. I hopped on my own bicycle to ride to the allergist. It was the first time I'd ridden my bike without a child aboard in years, so it was kind of fun. It made me wonder why I don't use my bike for transportation more often.

It's time to decide -- is this a healthy habit that can be realistically worked into day-to-day life?

• Piece of cake! I can definitely work this into my daily routine.
• Not my cup of tea. This is harder than I imagined. Still, I plan to stick with it and do my best.
• Nuts! This seems nearly impossible to keep up. But I'll definitely do it whenever possible.

It's a tie! And here's why: I really enjoyed my week of walking everywhere. I got plenty of fresh air and sunshine, lots of extra exercise, and I saved on fuel and did my share to protect the environment. But I also realize that walking or biking everywhere just isn't practical 100% of the time. We had really great weather all week long, but the cold, rain, and snow are on their way, for one thing.

We also made some sacrifices this week, a few that I'm not willing to make every day. For instance, instead of taking my three-year-old to a tiny tumblers class in a neighboring community, I took her to our neighborhood park instead. Sure, she still had fun and got some exercise, but she also missed out on an opportunity to socialize with other kids her age.

So here's my compromise: WalkScore said our neighborhood was 60% walkable, so 60% of the time (or more), I'm going to do my best to walk or bike. We'll keep walking to school, to neighborhood activities, and to use the nearby business district to fill as many of our needs as possible. That way, when we do climb into our van for something that's a little farther away, I can feel good about the fact we're using it far less than we used to.

You recycle, you turn off the lights, you're making conscious decisions every day to reduce your impact on the environment. So why, then, are you still driving your gas guzzler to the gym to walk or run on an electric treadmill?

If you're looking to green your workout, look no farther than 50plus.com and their tips on Earth-conscious workouts. They've got some great advice, including:

• Walk or run in your neighborhood or nearby trails.
• Keep the thermostat down during the winter months, and ward off the chills with calisthenics.
• If you want to stay in, find a used stationary bike, which doesn't use electricity.
• Rehydrate with a reusable water bottle, and ditch the bottled water habit for good.
• Become an eco-runner and clean up the environment while you exercise.

Another great way to keep your physical activity green is to build it into your every day routine. Commute by bike and burn calories while saving on gas and reducing pollution. Do your errands on foot to get in your exercise, and avoid annoying traffic at the same time. Spend time out in your garden growing your own organic veggies and burn fat by hoeing those pesky weeds. Exercise doesn't have to be complicated and it can help you do your part at conserving natural resources at the same time.

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I lived four glorious years in Gainesville, Florida, a city flush with bike lanes. I rode my bike everywhere -- my husband commuted on two wheels. I'd like to think if city zoning boards could do it all over again, bike lanes would be ubiquitous nationwide.

As you can see from this Slate V video, bike lanes are often an afterthought. Here's Slate's offering for The Stupidest Bike Lane in America -- although I'm certain there's a more pathetic one out there.

Why would LA bother striping a 12 second bike lane? Pedal pushers experience a lightning quick letdown on this one.

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Bicyclists in NYC may soon have a new place to park their ride...in the city's first bicycle parking lot. The lot, if constructed, will be protected by an attendant, reducing a cyclists risks having their bike vandalized or stolen. The lot have a handful of free spaces for short-term use, but most users would have to pay a fee for parking.

The bikes-only lot would be located on 33rd Street, close to Penn Station, which city officials hope would make it convenient for commuters. In addition, the city has been making an effort to install more bike racks. Commuting by bike is an excellent way to get in your daily workout and reduce pollution at the same time.

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Every morning (well, every morning that I don't absolutely need the car), I look out the bedroom window at the snow and ice, then I turn to my husband and say, "Really. You can take the car today."

"Nah," he usually says. Then he bundles up for the cold and heads off to work. Once you start commuting by bicycle, it just seems wrong to let a little snow stop you, I guess. I can respect that, and it gives me a few ideas for gifts to put under the Christmas tree:

• Winter commuting means traveling in the dark. Keep your commuter safe with head and rear lights. These are battery powered, but you can also find solar or even hand-crank powered versions.
• Whether it's a crucial project for an important meeting or gear for a back-country bike trip, your biker needs a place to stash his or her stuff. My hubby uses a backpack, but I'm partial to this waterproof pack/pannier.
• A bicycle computer helps cyclists keep track of their trip or workout, if they're into that sort of thing.
• Keep hands warm with CliMitts, which attach right to the handle bar, or with a pair of lobster-style gloves.
• If you really want to spend some cash, many winter cyclists outfit a second bicycle with all the necessary gear. That way, no matter what the conditions, they always have a bike that's ready for anything. Since I don't do much riding in the winter, my bike usually plays the role of second bike for my commuter.

Bicycling is excellent exercise, and there really isn't any reason you can't continue to do it in the wintertime. Like any outdoor sport, you just have to come prepared for the elements.



See more fit gifts!

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My husband, who commutes to work on his bike, has an uncanny knack for missing rainstorms. Though he's been riding his bike to work for at least three years, I can only count on one hand the number of times he's come home wet. I'll look out the window at the pouring rain, think, "Wow. I really should go get him." Then, just as I'm ready to leave, the clouds part...or at least quit dumping buckets of rain. He's charmed, I'm telling you.

Commuting by bike is a great way to sneak in exercise, reduce pollution, and save money on gas. Chances are, however, you aren't going to be as lucky as my hubby when it comes to rainfall. If you're truly committed to riding your bike, but not to having your work clothing soaked through, Sarah over at Green Daily has some excellent suggestions for wet weather biking gear. These duds are also helpful for biking enthusiasts who head outside, despite the weather.

I won't be buying any for my husband just yet. I'm afraid it would break the spell!

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My husband's been biking to work for about three years now, and he loves it so much that we even sold his car. He has an extraordinary knack for just missing rainstorms, and last winter -- despite my offers for him to take our remaining car on those cold and icy January days -- he pulled on cold weather gear and biked through the snow. He says riding his bike makes him feel good, gives him energy, and is a great way to get some fresh air during the busy work week.

But what if you want to pedal to work and don't have any place to safely park your bike? A new generation of folding bicycles has made commuting or traveling with your bicycle so much easier. They can be checked as luggage on planes, and many of them fold in seconds, making it simple to stow your bike in your office until you're ready to head home again. Check out this review of four popular folding bikes. They aren't cheap, but if gasoline prices keep rising, they may pay for themselves in no time.

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