DTE: Why I Bike To Work

At the SR Down To Earth blog, Paul Dillon gives 6 reasons why he bikes to work year round (illustration: www.cicle.org):

• Bikes are cheap to buy, cheap to operate, and cheap to park. And I’m cheap.
• Riding is exercise, and like many of us I find it incredibly hard to make time for exercise if it’s not integrated into my daily routine.
• Biking is much faster than walking, and for my commute it’s also faster than the bus, even though the bus stop is only three blocks from my house.
• I avoid the frustration of not being in control: I never have to wait for a late bus, I can go around cars stuck in traffic, I can stop and take a picture whenever I want.
• It’s exhilarating—I always feel more alive after a ride, even when the weather’s miserable.
• It’s just plain fun to zip around on the city streets—sometimes I practice riding wheelies like a 12-year old on my way in to work. Full post here.

Question: What are the down sides to biking to work?