Guest post: Ian Klepetar, “Superheroes”
The next post in Bike Safe Boston’s special guest series is by Ian Klepetar of BicycleBenefits.
According to Ian’s website, Bicycle Benefits is a “progressive bicycling program designed to reward individuals and businesses for their commitment to cleaner air, personal health, and the use of pedaling energy in order to create a more sustainable community”.
By incentivizing cycling, Ian encourages citydwellers to use their bikes for daily errands: just buy a sticker for $5 to get discounts at the local coffeeshops, restaurants and stores you use everyday.
Though Bicycle Benefits’s humble roots are in Ian’s hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY, Ian has been spreading his message all over the country since 2006 (by bike, of course). 21 states (plus British Columbia) now have thriving Bicycle Benefits programs. And, considering Ian’s passion and energy, more will soon follow.
All right, on to his post!
Superheroes: Who are they, and what do they do?
They often leave some more acceptable behaviors behind in order to further a greater cause. They use their power, instincts and unwavering strength to do what is right.
Ever ask yourself what a superhero would think of you? Would Superman throw you a fist pump for trading in your Schwinn Varsity for a Jeep Liberty? What about your childhood self that yearned to be the greatest you could be — what would they think?
It’s healthy to reflect and think about this in the context of how we move about our planet, and what we do in our time on this planet in order to make it better. When we wake up and it’s raining and cold, do we put on our outfit of defeat? Or do we throw on the red and blue tights (and perhaps our helmet) and take on the unknown world of bike commuting?
In this mix of metal and mayhem is where guts meet glory. Challenges present themselves as car doors being opened in our faces, pot holes, close calls and uncaring drivers. This is when our unwavering instincts and strengths need to come alive. After honing our skills in the spring, summer and fall, we see the number of cyclists on the streets drop along with the thermometer.
More than any other season, the winter is when the true superheroes of our time emerge. Pedaling through those extra months, when the average Joe’s and Jenny’s are hanging up their bikes, allows us to be a part of the “elite superheroes that get movies named after them” group. Our ski helmets, reflective vests, ski goggles and extra layers of clothes (or fat) are just part of the superhero suits that separate us from them.
Our missions are implanted in our minds…”to work,” “to store,” “to girlfriends house.” Though we often arrive feeling like a frozen drowned rat corpse, we know in our hearts that we did it in a way that would make our childhood self smile. Frozen hands and frozen beards are the medals of honor we bear to show our courage and resilience in the elements.
Perhaps asking our good friends (and ourselves) about the things that make us feel like superheroes (and the things that don’t), should be done regularly, discussed and written down. With all the distractions in our days, it’s important to be reminded that we all can live value-driven lives and be the superheroes we always dreamed of being.
Using our own power to get to where we are going is just one of the many ways that we can be superheroes and make the planet better for us all.
Keep pedaling… inspire your superhero friends!
— Ian Klepetar
IMAGE via flickr
Want to read previous Bike Safe Boston guest posts?
