A couple of weeks ago, Gina pedaled over to LA's "Original" Farmers Market for a few odds and ends, and somehow bought a large, heavy.... A couple of weeks ago, Gina pedaled over to LA's "Original" Farmers Market for a few odds and ends, and somehow bought a large, heavy bookcase while she was there. When she got home, she said we could fire up her Mini Cooper and pick it up the next day.

I said, "Why don't we try the bike trailer instead? If that doesn't work, we'll come back for the damned car."

As it turned out, the bookshelf--even though still disassembled in its shipping box--wouldn't have fit into the damned car, at least not without sticking out of the back a considerable distance, which would have necessitated leaving the hatch open. The aerodynamics of cars results in this causing the cabin to fill with exhaust fumes, never pleasant. (Though of course those same exhaust fumes go on to fill the atmosphere....)

So I hooked the bike trailer to the big orange fixie and pedaled over to the shop.

The box was big and heavy, marked, "Caution--Heavy--Team Lift Required." The tall and muscular warehouse guy rolled it out on an industrial-strength dolly, and I tilted it gingerly onto the little trailer (the cheapest one we could find at the time we bought it, and frankly no more than adequate).

A couple of bungee cords and some straps salvaged from an old laundry bag, and off we went, with Gina pedaling along while filming with her iPhone.

As you see in the clip, no problem at all.

The car does not need to be the default mode for every urban movement. Far from it. In fact, given the weight of the box, we had an easier time with the little (and low to the ground) bike trailer!