Jonathan Mosher is a prosecutor in the Pima County Attorney's Office.

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On Monday, I was surprised to read a "Road Runner" column by Andrea Kelly ("Alternatives to driving sometimes not practical," April 14) focused on how difficult it is to commute by any means other than a car.

The author focused on a single problem her "cubicle neighbor" had with bike commuting. He needed to get around a lot during the day and the bike was impractical for this. This is obviously a very real limitation for reporters. But the column paints with too broad a brush, concluding that bike commuting "just doesn't work for reporters. And I bet it doesn't work for a lot of you, either."

The whole reason for the article is that "here we are in the middle of Clean Air Days." Clean air, reducing traffic congestion and improving quality of life are serious issues. But the article is a failed opportunity to discuss alternatives to car-commuting.

The article is a get-out-of-change-free card that people can use to tell themselves bike commuting is just too impractical for them. The fact is, for a whole lot of people who are not reporters and don't have to change work locations throughout the day, bike commuting is more practical than car commuting once the initial challenges are confronted and solved.

I bike commute a majority of work days, often every day of the week, even when I am in trial (which is quite often). My trip is about 25 miles total per day, which is a good distance because it is far enough to feel like a complete workout in each direction. I found a secure parking space for my bike near work. Many such spaces are available Downtown; contact the Bicycle/Pedestrian Programs Coordinator for Pima County to learn more about this.

I found access to shower facilities nearby and learned that you can fold shirts and trousers, pack them in a backpack, leave suit jackets in the office and show up even in court, before a jury, looking just as though you drove in your air-conditioned car.

The best part is that you get two workouts a day, save money, enjoy the outdoors, lose weight, reduce pollution and arrive home without the need to go to the gym.

I have found bike commuting, once the challenges are confronted and overcome, to be more practical than driving, not less. Tucson has so many bike lanes, you need to find the right route, which you can do by consulting the free Tucson Bike Map, available at bike stores around town.

Many people drive down congested roads that are not suitable for bikes and then conclude bike commuting is too dangerous, when nearby, less-trafficked roads are good options for bikes.

The bottom line: the column, however well-intentioned, is not socially responsible. Let's encourage each other to take a look at our own behaviors and see what we can change to drive less, get outside more, instead of just blowing money and wasting time driving through it from Point A to Point B.