Tracee Ellis Ross-pinkety-pink with magenta, ivory, and silver fringe cascading from each handlebar. That was my first bike.At least, that is how I remember it. But there is a huge memory gap between my first bike and the bike I received as a gift last year — because I was afraid of bikes. Not in the way people are afraid of spiders. I did not have cyclophobia. So, when someone would say “easy as riding a bike,” I would think: Who are you kidding?In Chicago, a friend and Ironman triathlete named Derrick Milligan encouraged me to ride again, actually training me and other black women to compete in triathlons. But every time I had to ride, I was nervous. I still cannot say clearly why, but it was enough to keep me off a bike once I left Chicago.Fast-forward to now, and I really like to ride my bicycle. I say “really like” and not "love" for several reasons. But first, there is a question that can be fairly asked: Why are you riding a bike, scaredy-cat?To get to my studio, the options are:No. 1 — Drive. But I don’t have a car, so not an option.No. 2 — Ride-sharing. It is lovely, but cost-prohibitive for the everyday.No. 3 — Transit. I could take one, nearly hour-long bus ride.No. 4 — Walk. It would take 20 minutes, and then I would have to take that one bus.No. 5 — Transit (again). Ride two buses!No. 6 — Bike. For 30 minutes.So, biking is the fastest way for a car-less and frugal me to get from Point A to Point B. And thanks to the increasing number of bike lanes … Yes, I said it. I mean it. About 80 percent of my commute is either by bike lane or bike trail. In fact, if it wasn’t for the increasing number of bike lanes, I would not be riding at all.Riding my bike means more freedom to move. It is exercise, transportation, and to some extent, community. I am the cyclist that stops at the stop sign and red light. I do the hand signals when I am turning, and you may see me riding up onto the sidewalk to turn on the pedestrian cross signal because the bike does not register as present at an intersection. I am not perfect. I am careful.This is "like" (not "love") for several reasons: cars parked illegally in the bike lanes; pedestrians crossing in front of my bike, as though I am invisible; hostile drivers with their “the road belongs only to us” vibe.Also, those cyclists who were obviously never afraid to ride, who have little-to-no care for anyone else on the road. I am not one for respectability politics, but maybe we could model the behavior we want reflected back to us?You can learn a lot about the soul of a city from the way the roads work or do not. What does the inability of our pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists to share these roads say about Pittsburgh?__