I figured out a way to make the strange in-lieu-of-shoelaces thingies wrap around my pants around my ankles, because I couldn't find my reflectorized Velcro one and I wanted to be biking but not grungy today 'cause I'm going out after work ( ) .
There was a steady STREAM of bicycles (well, I could almost always see another one behind the one going by) coming my way and I began to wonder if I should turn around - maybe there was some Eastbound Bicycle Evacuation happening and I'm glad to say most of 'em were on the street, not the sidewalks.
I'm hoping it's not too gross in the afternoon and evening - but based on what people have said about car maintenance, maybe I'll drive tomorrow simply because it's been since the Amish ride since it's gone outside except to the gas station when the prices went down (the logistics of where my bike & I will be could get really convoluted!)