It all started with the demise of the battery in my 1991 Honda Civic in early August. A car in the garage for service on past occasions usually meant a day or two of round trips between Westerville and downtown Columbus on the COTA express.

But this summer Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and COTA combined to offer a fresh alternative: free Bus `n Bike rides through Labor Day. I had read in the COP newsletter how COP and COTA had collaborated to obtain a grant to mount user-friendly bicycle racks on the front of every COTA bus and to cover fares of all bicyclists who used the Bus `n Bike service to mitigate traffic and improve air quality.

The pitch was simple: show up at a bus stop with a bike, ride free all summer. The idea was intriguing, but until I found myself car-less I hadn't found the motivation to give it a try. Now the bicycle wheels in my mind began spinning in anticipation. The 20-mile one-way trip into work in the morning had always seemed daunting - not because of the mileage, but because of the ride time, the heavy traffic and the need to shower or at least freshen up upon arrival at the office.

Now COTA offered a way to get downtown in a timely manner, without dealing with rush-hour traffic and ready to start work with only a change of shoes.

My first trip was gleefully uneventful. The bike racks were extremely easy to use and held the bike securely. Bike on the rack, me on the bus, then 40 minutes later me off the bus, bike off the rack and a short, two-block ride to work. No traffic, no sweat, no problem. Well, OK, there was the matter of adapting my Land's End "courier bag" for actual on-the-bike use. It became clear that a chest strap would be needed to hold the bag securely in place while riding. So I fashioned one from some surplus nylon straps and Velcro fasteners - not flashy, but effective.

The ride home was a breeze along the familiar Olentangy Bike Trail from downtown Columbus to the trailhead at Wilson Bridge Road, then on to Huntley and Schrock roads into Westerville. Even the bike lane on Schrock - formerly notorious for plenty of potential tire-flattening debris - proved more bike-friendly, with the lane apparently being swept clear of debris periodically.

I arrived home that first August evening feeling physically invigorated, mentally mellow and totally excited about bicycle commuting.

The free rides have ended, but with fuel ranging up to $3-a-gallon the $1.75 one-way fare is still less expensive than driving my 40-mpg Civic roundtrip. Plus I get a moderate to intense - my choice - workout every time I bicycle home that clears my mind and tunes muscles and riding skills.

With 17 one-way rides over the 44 workdays in August and September, I don't consider myself a full-fledged bike commuter. I don't ride when afternoon rains are probable, and the shortening days make the homebound ride a lights-required trip when the weather cooperates enough during the "dark" months to take advantage of the flex in my work schedule. But come next spring, I'll be itching to "get on the bus" so I can experience the joy of bike commuting regularly again.

Good news! I learned in late September that the Clean Ohio Fund has awarded a grant to the City of Columbus to acquire land and right-of-way that will enable the completion of the Alum Creek Trail between Airport Drive and Easton in about two years. That will open two route options. Until then, the Olentangy Trail and the Bike `n Bus program beckon this newbie bike commuter.