One of my husband's big projects for the year is to bike more. He got a new bicycle for Christmas and is excited to start riding in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. Kellan loves Erik's new bike and when we told him we were going to get a trailer so he could ride along, his eyes lit up.

I wish I could join their enthusiasm. There are many reasons why bicycling should be encouraged, from lowering carbon emissions to weight loss. I like the idea of being able to go places without getting into a car. My problem is riding in traffic. It makes me nervous. The last time I went for a ride in the city, it was in Washington, DC in heavy traffic. That bike ride was so stressful that I haven't ridden on a busy street in 15 years!

Now it's probably time to let that go. Many cities offer bike safety classes for adults as well as children. You can look up cyclist forums online for advice not only on where to find classes, but ways to make biking safer in your city. I think a mellow bike trail is probably my first step. Then who knows, maybe I will be able to handle sharing the road with cars again.