Because the Boy is due to be born on 9th May I decided to drive to work today. The reasoning being that if I got The Call, I would be able to dash to the car and whizz home from Brighton to Worthing (12 miles) to pick up The Wife and The Bag of Specifically Packed Things as Recommended by Special People to zoom off for a meeting with destiny.
The Wife was a bit dubious about me taking the car for the following reasons:
- It takes me 40-50 minutes max to cycle between Worthing and Brighton regardless of weather or traffic conditions. Contrary to what the popular press thinks, I do this obeying the Highway Code.
- I hate driving and what I become when driving. Some people listen to Radio 3 whilst driving because they like classical music and maybe played an instrument at school. I listen to Radio 3 whilst driving because without its soothing influence I would beat to death the next motorist that can’t queue properly with the clarinet I played at school.
The fact is it took me a far more stressful 50 minutes to get from Worthing to Brighton and will take me the same amount of time and stress to get home. I would have to rely on the Boy not making an appearance during the school run or either rush hour for the car to be truly effective.
Work colleagues said I really should have a car on standby ‘in case of emergency’. I nearly fell for the same car advertising drivel they fell for – better speed, every road looking as clear as the Scottish Highlands and you would be forgiven for thinking that by buying a new car you’re actually saving the environment with ‘Eco’ this and Lower Emissions that. When I get The Call, I’m going to be incredibly stressed so being in control of a ton of metal moving at speed is not the answer until it’s not moving at speed at which point it becomes a frustrating cage.
The bicycle wins. The simplest plans are always the best. Except our Birth Plan of course.
The Lo Fidelity Bicycle Club 