It's the little things that make me enjoy commuting to work by bike. I enjoy walking out the front door on a brisk fall morning and being enveloped by the chill in the air. I relish the polite stares and quizzical looks I get at the office. "How far did you ride to work?" and "That bike is so light…What's it made out of?!" are the usual questions I get. I dig the buzz of my freewheel rather than the buzz of a morning coffee, and I enjoy the intoxicating freedom from my car. Mostly, though, I enjoy being a cycling ambassador.

When I swing my leg over my bike, I become an emissary for cycling enthusiasts everywhere. As I pedal my bike to work, wait at traffic lights, stop at stop signs, and signal my intentions, I build a rapport with motorists. I like to think that I am educating the general public about commuting. Society has become programmed to act a certain way, and Joe Average drives his car to work every morning out of habit. However, it has been my experience that the mold can be cracked and broken. Old habits die hard, but they do die.

I typically ride my bike along a certain route to my place of work. I am, after all, a creature of habit. I rarely deviate from these roads, and I invariably catch certain lights on red. I have noticed that the same people pass me day after day; they, too, are religious in their route choice. These motorists see my behavior at 7:30am and 4:30pm several times per week. Perhaps over the course of the 100 or so times that they have passed me, a switch in their consciousness has been thrown. Perhaps they are now considering alternative modes of transportation. Perhaps they are thinking of riding their bike this evening after seeing me. Perhaps they have decided to purchase a bicycle for their son or daughter because I reminded them of a gift they received when they were younger….and perhaps not. Perhaps that light will dawn on them on another morning.

This role that we assume each morning as we clip into our pedals is a weighty one fraught with conflict. I imagine that there have been very few ambassadors who were well received everywhere they went. Hostile reception is part of the gig. I have had the following thrown at me since moving to Memphis, TN from West Michigan one year ago: a handful of loose change, a fork, an empty bottle, and a full can of Budweiser….icy cold. I have been sworn at, chewed out, and a few weeks ago, a teenager in a car leaned out of the passenger window to shove me as he passed. Fortunately, I have not been injured through any of these incidents. However, an ambassador strives to exercise diplomacy. I try, to the best of my ability, to realize that emotions are short lived. I merely smile and wave to these people as I inwardly shout a plethora of 4 letter words at the offender. After all, I'm trying to win the war, and there are other motorists watching me.

The next time you head out the door for your morning commute or afternoon ride, remember that the fossil fueled public scrutinizes you and your actions. You are, in all your fancy gear with your sparkling components, spreading the gospel of cycling to the masses. Charles Barkley, the famous professional basketball player known for his temper, was once quoted saying "I am not a role model." The statement was controversial because he was a player in the public spotlight. Likewise, you are not given a choice about your emissary role; rather, it is thrust upon you. This duty does not have to be at the fore front of your mind as you pedal, but being aware of your actions and their message is extremely important. As you enjoy your ride, for whatever reasons, remember that you are an ambassador for cyclists. The attitudes and habits of motorists can be influenced in many directions. Send a positive message for cyclists and the cycling industry. You'll reap what you sow.