It's been almost a year since a car hit me while I was riding my bike. We are very grateful to those who blessed us with their visits, gifts and support of my family while I was incapacitated.

During my stay in the hospital I vowed to work to improve biking conditions in the area. Since then we have been successful in forming a bicycle club called Fayette Biking for Life.

The purpose of the club is "to promote and advocate safety and road awareness for bicyclists and to encourage and engage persons in the sport of any type of bicycling." The club meets the fourth Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the old Fayette County High School, phone 770-461-1880 or e-mail at faybkn4lif@juno.com for more information.

Our next group activity is planned for May 15. We will join the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign in a bike rally to Atlanta and you are invited.

Since becoming involved in working for our cause we have realized that it is a bigger issue than just biking. Our view is that it is the overall quality of life, involving all of our community.

We have a vision of wide paved road shoulders which will help retain the quality of life, by promoting neighborhood outdoor activities and a more healthy life style of more walking, running and bicycling in the area that most of us moved here to enjoy.

There is much to be done to reach the desired level of accommodations that we look to achieve. As we develop transportation plans for Fayette County to attain ozone standards, we see coexistence of the bicycle and the motor vehicle as a viable way of reducing the air pollution level. This could be one way of eliminating congestion that most of us endure daily, while improving health conditions, too.

While it was unfortunate that a car hit me, I was fortunate to survive. I've made it my personal mission to work toward the improvement of biking conditions in the area. My mission is a part of my therapy.