Man, I am completely stressed out. About a month ago a carload of teenagers plowed their vehicle into my parked car, effectively totaling it and forcing me to cut the straps off my bike rack. Damn. Then my beloved insurance company, who was indeed generous enough to provide me with a rental car, has proceeded to drag the process of giving me money out past the allocated 30-day car rental.


This in itself is not causing me stress. Well, perhaps a minute amount, but I have alternate transportation. Hell, I’ve got my choice. I did just build up a nice, cheap Schwinn hybrid specifically for riding to work and back. There have even been days in the past month where I let the insurance company’s money go to waste as my rental car occupied the former crash site.


What’s stressing me out, though, is essentially coming to grips with my dependence on automobiles. I guess I’ve always known it. As soon as I got my first car, you never again saw me balancing a skateboard between the top tube and handlebars of my BMX bike... or another person on the pegs, for that matter.


But now my dependence isn’t just based on the freedom a car seems to give me. I mean, it’s nice to be able to drive 20 miles to ride trails, but it’s certainly not necessary, even living in the city. My dependence really stems from the fact that a car gets my lazy, waking up at 8:45 ass to work in 20 minutes, whereas my Schwinn requires at least 45 minutes. And yes, I could just wake up earlier, but I’m just not a morning person.


So here I am, about to have my automotive crutch kicked out from under me unless… drum roll please… I spend a whole bunch of money on another car! Oh joyous joy. And what, pray tell, will I wind up this time? Another four-door used company car that will break down on the way to Jim Thorpe and send me home with another $1,200 transmission bill? Or perhaps I should heed to the beckoning call of “0% interest, keep America rolling!” Yeah, I got student loans I’ll be paying until I’m 93, do I really need another payment? For God’s sake, I work at Dirt Rag!


Which kind of leads me full circle. Although the thought of going car-free is tempting, I’m going to just get another car. Karl got me a new bike rack, and it’s even better than my old one. The original Manic Mechanic, Lee, is going to help me find some sort of dependable car. But I’ve got a plan, or a notion… an idea at least. I’m going to try not to use it. I figure I can save a few dollars a week in gas money by riding my bike to work. Then I’ll take that money, and find other constructive ways to keep America rolling. —Jeff Guerrero