You'll be doing the environment a favor by using it for quick trips, as well as cutting down on expenses. So be creative, use it in ways that you never thought you would. With panniers, you can make quick trips to the grocery store to pick up a dozen eggs or a loaf of bread. It'll take you to the bank and to the movies. Equipped with the proper lighting, it will even help you scoot around at night.
Most manufacturers offer bikes designed for urban transportation.
They're called cross bikes or city bikes. They have sturdy frames, more upright seating positions and wider tires than, say, for a road bike. They're the perfect vehicle for that Saturday morning trip down to Starbuck's. One of the newest trends are electric-powered bikes. Most of them are set up to assist you with an electric motor when the pedaling gets too hard.