Ok, so now that it's summer, when it's not raining, or hasn't just rained, or isn't likely to rain later in the day, I bike to "work," where "work" means the library and I sit and read periodicals looking for thought-provoking articles about various world cities.
It's a tough job, but hey, someone has to do it.
I am the most fairweather cyclist you can imagine, and my cycling colleagues are probably disgusted. I am mostly motivated by not having a parking pass for the summer (and thus having to PAY if I drive), and slightly motivated by the thought of trimmer legs. If something happens to my bike, I will just call B, who will come pick me up - I haven't the faintest clue about bike maintenance, despite the loan of 3 books on the subject from my brother.
I keep telling myself that biking is no more hassle than driving. But the movements of driving somewhere - sliding into the seat, pulling out, negotiating the road without paying full attention - are ingrained from years of driving, and biking as a means of transport still is pretty new. I have to pay attention on behalf of idiot drivers (or I'll get killed) and then there is lots more stuff to look at generally. More decisions it seems, too: should I cross here, or wait until after that car? Should I speed up and blow through the yellow, or wait? Is a train approaching? Has someone swept up that glass since yesterday?
It is rare to get a string of green lights on 11th Avenue. It happened today for the second time since I started biking last summer. They are timed for cars to get several greens, but for bikes to get every yellow. Tuesday, I watched THREE cars blow through the light-rail warning, as the gates were coming down: not too smart. And when someone's car gets totalled for that kind of moronic driving, there'll be all sorts of calls for a safer transport system, longer lead times on the gates, beefier gates, etc. etc. Oh well - since we can't legislate smarter drivers...
Other than the alertness factor, I really like biking: the wind in my face, daily changes in the landscape, the feeling of achievement from propelling myself forward. Since most of my route is relatively car-free, it's a good trip.
Posted by otto0114 at June 9, 2005 09:05 PM