According to U.N. estimates, the world human population will reach 7 billion today. Whether this milestone is good or bad, it should give us all serious pause in the attempt to export the current American lifestyle. The average American home has 2.28 cars. This means one car per adult. Now apply that to the world and think about the congestion, pollution, and communities ruined in the name of moving and parking metal boxes. Considering China and India (where baby 7 billion is estimated to have been born today) are both the largest population countries in the world and the fastest growing automobile markets, are you freaked out yet?

The 1950s American dream is not sustainable on a global scale. Our lifestyle has depended on the vast majority of the world doing with substantially less. But our choice to live with less does not have to make us worse off. In fact, it can improve our lives. The simple act of riding a bike instead of driving gets you more in tune with your family and your neighborhood, keeps you healthy, and saves you an enormous amount of cash. Sounds like a better life, no?

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the problems of the world. I suggest you confront it by turning a pedal instead of the ignition key.