Doing our bit for the (cough) environment

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but once we moved in almost a year ago (what? that long already) we decided to use our bikes to cycle in and out of Kuopio as much as possible. This is based on the fact that the bus takes about 25 mins (although the stop is at the bottom of the garden, the bus goes halfway round Kuopio before actually going near the centre), and driving in takes about 15 mins. Cycling in takes 25 mins, most of which is along forest paths and beside the lake, and the most direct. There's a couple of small hills (Well, if you think of the average Irish hill, not anything remotely hill like about them), but it's mostly pretty flat. This is good for our health, means that all the stress of work/student life can be put at a distance, and of course the environment benefits. BUT most of all the greatest benefit is in the wallet department. We realised that we filled up our car on the first of January, on the way back from the mother-in-laws in Hyvinkää, and the next time was on the first of February. Not sure if it's even half empty from that fill. This is also due to the fact that the kids daycare and preschool are within walking distance, so the car lives in the garage. Given that petrol is 1.40€ at the moment, we're appreciating the Finnish policy of building nice wide footpaths and cyclepaths, and also the fact that, apart from the very centre of town, you can cycle on the footpath. Apart from crossing roads (and cars have to give way, if you're at a marked crossing point! - although this is a carefully negotiable point...) we never ever cycle on the roads. A change of clothes gets taken in every day, to counter the sweaty peasant image, but it works surprisingly well. I could also ski into town across the lake (it's a very big lake...), but it would be hard work. And when I fulfill my dream of building a dinghy, I can sail in the summer!!! Talking of skiing, the weather forecast is for heavy snowfall for the next 3 or 4 days. Next week is skiing holiday week, so it's rather well timed.