Adam Pieniazek blogs from Dorchester and helps consults businesses on their web strategy at The 42nd Estate. He enjoys bicycling around Boston and reminiscing about the greatest TV show of all time, Battlestar Galactica.

For over a year, I have not owned a car. Many people find it odd and think my transportation methods must be inconvenient. In reality, not owning a car has given me far greater independence than owning a box on four wheels ever did.

Bicycling is economical

When people discover this fact about my life, they near immediately recognize that there are benefits to riding a bicycle or taking the T. For one, there’s a clear economic advantage. Say goodbye to gas bills, insurance bills, maintenance costs, and the lost opportunity cost of wasting time sitting in traffic.

Sure, a bicycle has its own costs, but in comparison to the near fortune spent on car ownership, they’re nearly negligible. Of course, the T is not free, but I have some credits built up from previous jobs, and friends and family with monthly passes that are handed to me when they’re not in use. Even with the occasional out of pocket T ride, I save tons of money riding the T and my bike instead of driving.

But, that’s not why I rock the two wheeled, human powered pedaling machine.

Biking is green

Many people commend me for being green. They say riding my bicycle is great for the environment, and they often ponder that they’d love to bike too but can’t because they have kids, a long commute, an office job, are scared of cars, and many other excuses.

I often end up telling these people that it’s simply not that hard, scary, or impractical. It’s often faster, easier, and safer to ride a bicycle than a car. I can bypass traffic, park anywhere, and my health and reaction skills improve enough that any risks of getting hit by a car are offset by the gains. While, riding my bicycle and ditching the car is a net WIN for the environment (it’s not a 100% green, factories do produce these bikes), in the end, it’s not my primary motivation for biking either.

The bicycle: Giver of freedom, energy, and life

When my behind hits the seat and my feet step on the pedals, my mood immediately changes. A smile begins to emerge on my face. As my legs start rotating, a wave of energy comes over me. As the air hits my face and my senses awaken to the smells and sounds around me, I feel truly alive.

It’s a pure natural high that is sustainable and good for you. Sometimes it pushes me to pedal as fast as I can, sometimes it makes me sing and yell out (if you ever hear a biker fly by singing “aaahoooo werewolves in london”, that’s me) and sometimes it just puts a big wide grin on my face that must make me look partially insane to the walkers and drivers of the world.

The freedom to hop on my Shogun and pedal to anywhere, without concern of cost or traffic jams, is why I bike. There’s no other vehicle that comes close to putting your independence directly in your hands (and feet). You completely control where you go and when you get there.

As a writer (amongst other professions), a bike ride usually ends up invigorating me and lets me flesh out ideas. When I get home, my mind is clear and ready to focus. Even when going to social events, pedaling there leaves me filled with pure elated bliss. And when it’s time to go, there’s no worry about flagging a cab or waiting for the train or finding the parking spot, I hit the road and go on my way.

Other bicyclists around the city constantly repeat this mantra to me. Pedaling fills them with life and leaves them refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of the world. This feeling of independence and the energy of life is why I bike.

It’s funny how you realize how neurotic your whole entire family is when you spend some time away. It’s also, ironically, what makes going home so great: you fit right in, and you don’t have to worry about acting “normal” anymore.

I’m not at home, but I take comfort in the fact that my Mom is probably working non-stop on her lacquer-ware [she's an artist]. She doesn’t question how I’ll stay up into the wee hours of the morning slouched over, embroidering a piece of cloth. Neurotic devotion loves company, I guess.

But I think anyone, even people outside my family, will agree that it’s hard to get tired when you’re doing something you really love. Well, until much later. Like right now. My legs are finally feeling juiced out, after doing laps from Allston to downtown, to Cambridge and back to Brighton. I don’t usually ride this much, but having been introduced to this concept of “freedom,” [well, until the library opens again on Monday] I was at a loss as to what to do, other than pedal, pedal, pedal. And though I’m not at home, talking with nearly all my bike friends today came close enough. Because neurotic devotion for the same exact thing is always a guaranteed good time.

First stop was at polo; I hadn’t been to the court in months. And with a warmer weather, it seemed like everyone showed up. Boston’s Cutest Polo Player was in attendance [I failed to get a pic], as was Boston’s Hottest Polo Player [seen below].

And you know how the East Side Polo Invitational is being held here in Beantown in May? The teams coming up are going to face some stiff competition from our home teams. We’re just not happy with the whole “one mallet” concept, so we figure double-fisting couldn’t hurt. I mean, not as applied to polo at least.

Neurotic devotion? Probably. Are we going to own all the teams that come up for ESPI? Most definitely. Will we be the hottest players there? Yes, yes, and yes.

As I challenged the bald guy in the blue sedan who patronizingly tried to tell me to move over as I flipped him the bird on Comm Ave [which rendered him into some sputtering rage, in response to which I laughed]:

Bring it.

What to do on your last day of freedom before school starts up again:

1. Clean the apartment

2. Take a break from all the sewing

3. Go out to a diner with a friend

4. Eat some gigantor blueberry pancakes at Victor’s Diner in Watertown

5. Go for a bike ride