A few days ago I stumbled onto the Bike Year: a Utility Cycling Experiment site (click here to visit). Utility cycling is basically using a bicycle to do the sort of errands which most Americans do in a car, such as quick trips to the grocery store.
The blog includes a link to a Wikipedia article defining and describing utility cycling. Utility cycling is an interesting subcategory of the cycling world, and has different requirements than recreational, exercise, or commuting cycling. Utility trips are usually shorter, so the emphasis is on the ability to carry things rather efficiency and speed.
The blogger on the site above made a committment to use a bicycle for utility trips for a year, and write about the experience.