A Month of Human Power

For this month of February, I've decided to transport myself exclusively by my own power; no busses, no metro trains, and certainly no cars. Mostly, this is a simple challenge, like deciding to climb a mountain, run a marathon or watch all three Lord of the Rings movies in one sitting. It seems to me to be an interesting way to make my life, and my slightly expanded belly of late, a little less soft. But aside from the simple curiosity of whether I can do this or not, there are other angles to this challenge. Our modern society is facing urgent questions about sustainability, fossil fuels, and obesity. I'm hoping this month will be both a personal meditation and a conversation starter about these issues and about others that I will discover along the way. As a budding, amateur documentary filmmaker, I've thought it would be interesting to make a film about bicycle commuting and this challenge gives me a great opportunity to do just that. I'll be collecting and posting daily statistics and updates about my travels and shooting footage that will find its way into a short film about the experience. Now though, it's time to don some spandex, pump up the tires and hit the road. Stay tuned.