Other than the conflicting directions I received to get to the rental shop, I was personally impressed by the ease of renting a bike. I'm not sure there even is a bike rental place in New York, and if there were I would not be the first to encourage it-particularly if one is a tourist-as a mode of transportation. Though some do ride bikes, there is something of a danger of bodily damage or death. Traffic is particularly bad in the cab-ridden city of rulebreakers, and cars will veer in every direction, speed up at yellow lights and seem to think it fun to aim toward people in hopes that they will not only move out of the way very quickly, but know better next time not to think of something as silly as pedestrian right-of-way.

To make matters worse, there are absolutely no "bike lanes." I put the phrase in quotations because to a New Yorker, the prospect is laughable. Here every road bears bike lanes, bike trails and large encircled pictures of bikes every few feet for non-German speakers like myself. Even green traffic lights depict figures on bikes, as opposed to New York's walking figure. In the Big Apple, separate paths for cyclists are simply non-existent. One rides with the cars.

I have particularly good memories of my last visit to Bonn for the COP 6.5 climate change conference, during which I spent a good portion of time on the back of a bike (people are a bit friendlier here as well.) It was some of the most fun I have ever had and I vowed to rent one myself the next time around-not even assuming, to be truthful, that there would be a next time. When our staff first arrived for those weeks in July, we were plenty bewildered by bells behind us until we realized we were walking in the bike lane. Now, I thought as I rode the roads merrily, I'm one of those people!

Biking is also rather therapeutic. That might be why the protesters who came from Holland via bike tour were so laid back. (The Dutch are indeed a bike-loving people, as you may know from many a "spontaneous" photo op of Dutch Environment Minister Jan Pronk travelling everywhere by bike.) Biking is relaxing and a good workout, not to mention fast and fun. As an asthmatic smoker I can tell you I'd be in much better shape if New York were better accommodated for bikers. And what boggles my mind is that Germany has narrow roads for cars and no speed limit, and somehow the traffic isn't nearly as bad.

I have just this moment returned from checking to be sure my unlocked bike was still sitting outside the building. Sure enough, there it was, safe and sound just where I had left it. Perhaps bike theft is not a particular problem here. The New York mentality for such a theft would make it not only justifiable to steal my bike, but also a technical non-theft, because if the rider didn't want it stolen he or she would have made sure to lock it three times over. In fact, the rider, i.e. me, was practically beseeching for it to be taken.

On the subject of freshwater-since I assume this is why most of my readership is here in the adorably bike-friendly city of Bonn-I had plenty raining down on me last night, and for those who have failed to check the weather, we can expect more of the same all week long. Fortunately, there is little threat of my stepping in a mud puddle this week, and as opposed to an automobile my mode of transport won't even splash the pants of pedestrians.

Don't get me wrong. I love New York, I really do. But I must tell you I'm envious of Bonn bike benefits. And since I should, in fact, be promoting our economy and not highlighting its shortcomings during these tragic and troubled times, come to New York! It's really quite beautiful this time of year, and you can hardly go window shopping on a bike.