Cyclist Rolls Through Every Town In Connecticut

By rejecting one of the integral aspects of American culture, the car, David Bonan, of Danbury, has been reconnecting with actual Americans, and anybody else for that matter, while riding his bike through all 169 towns in Connecticut. 

"People are definitely disconnected in their cars," said the 34-year-old. "On a bike, you go places on your own terms, everything slows down a bit."

Bonan was in Ledyard, the 168th town on his list, and en route to Sharon, the last town on the list.

"They all have their own identity," he said of each of the state's towns. "Connecticut's really diverse." 

Bonan's goal to ride through each town in Connecticut began six years ago after he discovered he had already ridden through about 75. So with approximately 94 towns left to go, he plotted his routes in the winter and planned several four- to 10-day road trips throughout the summer.

Bonan said his routes usually "zig-zag" in and around towns he has already ridden through so he has visited several towns more than once. Though in general, he prefers towns on the coastline, and his favorite town so far is Redding.

"I could ride those roads one hundred times and not get sick of it," he said of the rural Fairfield County town.

Bonan camps along the route and budgets about $25 to $30 a day for meals. 

"You gotta be a little crazy, you gotta have a sense of adventure."

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