It is 9:30 p.m. ...a Sunday evening on Cape Cod in summer. The day's cycling is done. The TV is not on. I sit here in front of my computer as music flows from the desktop speakers. Traffic is jammed trying to get to the bridges off Cape. They honk at each other (an attempt to move faster)??? Horns honk - people shouting at each other. Radios blare. Tires squeal. Sirens scream - emergency vehicles attempt to navigate the jam.

• Life is simple on a bicycle.

• Life is simple when fuel for your vehicle is breakfast, lunch or dinner.

• Life is simple when you are not in a rush.

• Life is simple when you don't know (and don’t care) what is on TV anymore.

• Life is simple when you don't have to drive somewhere to find recreation... recreation is just outside your front door.

• Life is simple when you don't have to depend on a motor-vehicle for transportation.

I spent six months of 2001 trying to get the title for a vehicle that I had purchased. The state of Massachusetts, in its infinite wisdom, issues a "dummy" (or "memo") title to the lien-holders of vehicles when people move here from out-of-state. They fail to adequately explain to these new residents (and the lien-holders) that the previous out-of-state title is required (along with this "memo" title) when the time eventually comes to transfer the vehicle to another party. The legal Bill of Sale on the reverse of the "dummy" title is not sufficient for the resale of the vehicle in Massachusetts.

The vehicle was originally purchased in New Jersey. The vehicle was titled in New Jersey. There was a lien on the vehicle in New Jersey when the sellers first moved here. Massachusetts sent a "dummy" title to the lien-holders when the new residents wanted to register their vehicle here. When the bank in New Jersey released the lien, the Massachusetts "dummy" title was stamped PAID by the bank. The New Jersey title… who knows what happened to the New Jersey title? The bank doesn't have it, and the owners never had it (they were able to register and insure it in MA without the NJ title). I purchased the vehicle thinking I was getting a wonderful deal ($1,000 for a $5,500 vehicle they just wanted out of their driveway)! I walk into my local "resident friendly" Registry of Motor Vehicles and am promptly told that I can not register this obviously paid for and legally purchased vehicle without the previous New Jersey title.

I understand, all too well, the nature of our paper obsessed governmental bureaucracy. One would think that in this age of computer technology we would have developed some kind of Electronic Title system to transfer ownership of such property. Why should I need another piece of paper to make this transfer complete? The vehicle was obviously owned by the sellers. The lien was obviously satisfied with the bank (note the "PAID" stamp on the Mass. title). The vehicle was sold to me - the legal Bill of Sale on the back of the Mass. title verifies this. This situation appears to reflect the creation and protection of numerous jobs within the Mass. Title Division that depend on such "BULLSHIT" paper trails. Eliminate this bogus requirement and… ummm, jobs might be eliminated? (or less time and money would be wasted at least)!

Our hard-earned taxes and fees (taxes by another name) could be used more productively. Perhaps the time, energy and money put into motor vehicle titles would be better spent on monitoring and investigating those getting driver's licenses and visas in this country. It is easier for a foreigner (or perhaps a potential terrorist) to get a visa and a driver's license in the United States, than it is for a lifelong resident to register a legally bought and paid for vehicle. SIX MONTHS! What is wrong with this picture?

I tell this tedious story to illustrate a simple point… AUTOMOBILES ARE A ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS!!! They are expensive to purchase, operate, insure, title, maintain, own (property taxes), and register. The majority of the money devoured by the vehicle goes to a foreign country that provides us with oil. The positions within our state and federal bureaucracies that hinge on our use of the automobile are immeasurable. This does not take into account the loss of productivity when one must take time off from work to visit the local (45 mile round trip) Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The biggest problem I have had with purchasing a bicycle was trying to convince an EBAY seller it would be cheaper to visit their local bike shop to have the bicycle packaged and shipped to me. This only took TWO months dealing with one person... instead of MORE THAN HALF A YEAR dealing with a bureaucracy!

KEEP IT SIMPLE & RIDE A BIKE!