The Bicycle Could be the Solution to High Gasoline Prices
The bicycle could be a solution to the high gasoline prices for many. In small towns, bicycles are everywhere. People use them to go to and from work, shopping and even to pick up their dates.

Stores are now are offering more models and at competitive prices.

In a place like Liberia, Guanacaste, the bicycle is the perfect form of economical transportation. The town, located minutes from the border with Nicaragua and the Guanacaste beaches, is flat and has no major hills or climbs to negotiate. Some residents won't take a taxi even if they are given the money, preferring the two wheels to get about.

Can the same happen in San José? Well, that is another matter.

San José sees some 300.000 cars on it's streets daily. To ride a bicycle in and around San José is risky business, though it could go far in the government's plan to reduce gasoline consumption.

Unlike in Liberia, drivers in San José are not as courteous and will not give way to a cyclist. Cyclists complain that drivers in San José don't respect their rights.

And though bicycling could save a lot of gasoline, providing an economical method of travel, you won't see it anytime soon in the nation's capital. There are no bicycle lanes and on many roads there is no shoulder and then the many uncovered sewer manholes.

San José's mayor, Johnny Araya, says that the Municipality has unsuccessfully tried several times to encourage the use of bicycles in the downtown area. Araya said that there is a plan in place to promote two wheel transportation and has gotten the approval of Transport Minister, Javier Chaves, to build a cycle path between the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) and Pavas, however the project has been delayed.

Araya added that the Municipality's plan "San José Posible" includes bicycle paths, however, ironically there isn't even any bicycle spaces for bicycles at the municipal building on Avenida 10. A guard will look after your bicycle at the Municipality's lot, however, there isn't a special area for bicycles.

Health experts say that it's a shame that San José is not bicycle friendly. Pedaling to an from work not only saves gasoline consumption, but is a great form of exercise. Bicycling tones leg muscles and increases cardiovascular circulation.

In places like Rio De Janeiro there are 3 million bicycles in use, more than double the number of cars. In Colombia, 140.000 new cars are sold each year, pale, compared to 1.2 million bicycles.

For the time being, bicycling is best left to the smaller towns of Costa Rica and on Sundays in La Sabana park.