bike commuter confessional

I killed my cable a while back, and yesterday after work I rode to the cable store to return the cable box. It was raining, near dusk, the lighting in the empty store was really low, and the only clerk on duty was a middle-aged woman, sitting behind the counter in the corner. The darkness, quietness, solitude, and questions she peppered me with made me feel like I was doing a confession at church (I've never done one, so I may be taking some liberties here).

Her: "How did you get this thing here on a bike?"
Me: "I've got panniers."
Her: Blank stare.
Me: "Saddlebags. Bags that attach to the side of the bike to carry stuff."
Her: "You rode all the way over here in the rain from 38th and East Cliff?"
Me: "Yeah. It's not that far, and I don't have a choice. I sold my car a while back."
Her: "So you don't own a car." (The way she said this was interesting - verbally it came out as a statement; non-verbally it came out as a question - head cocked, chin down, eyebrows raised. She was doubtful.)
Me: "Nope."
Her: "Do you like your helmet?" (I was wearing it inside.)
Me: "Yeah. It's nice."
Her: "I bet you can ride really fast."
Me: Blank stare.
Her: "What do you do when you go on a date?"
Me: "I make her drive." Pause for effect. Then, "Just kidding. We ride bikes or drive her car. Sometimes I rent a car for a weekend to take a break from riding."

I like when people show interest, or doubt, in how I support myself on a bicycle. Although most of the questions are the same, I never get tired of talking to people about it. I guess that's the first law of bike commuting in effect (http://clayton-ryon.blogspot.com/2009/02/four-laws-of-bike-commuting.html). I need to find out a way to take this to the next level and actually *inspire* people to reduce their own dependence on automobiles. Fourteen percent of our car trips are less than half a mile...a five minute bike ride.