2009-2010 Fall/Winter Commuter Challenge is on!

[7rider]

Hmmmm.
You know that sidewalk I have to go down to get to out of my neighborhood at the start of my commute? (The one I've been b---hing about all winter?)
Well....it's still completely (well, 80%) clogged with impenetrable ice blocks 5 feet (1.5 m) tall.
But.......
The sidewalk across the street....that gets more direct sunlight.....is nearly clear. And rideable.
So.....
The question becomes, do I cross 6 lanes of traffic (without a light) to get to the side walk on the OTHER side....ride down the sidewalk a mere 1/3 mile to the light, cross as a pedestrian at the light, and start riding again to work? Or...do I just say fuggettaboutit and drag my DH out of the house to take me to Metro each morning and take the subway in until the snow on my side of that hell road melts more?

[pfunk12]

The question becomes, do I cross 6 lanes of traffic (without a light) to get to the side walk on the OTHER side....ride down the sidewalk a mere 1/3 mile to the light, cross as a pedestrian at the light, and start riding again to work? Or...do I just say fuggettaboutit and drag my DH out of the house to take me to Metro each morning and take the subway in until the snow on my side of that hell road melts more?

Is that the same 6 lanes of traffic that you and Tom forced me to go across during our Saturday morning ride a while back? If so, yes! Kidding...do what you feel comfortable with. If it's not a dead deer, it's an iceberg... What is up with that sidewalk?

[7rider]

Is that the same 6 lanes of traffic that you and Tom forced me to go across during our Saturday morning ride a while back? If so, yes! Kidding...do what you feel comfortable with. If it's not a dead deer, it's an iceberg... What is up with that sidewalk?

Yeah, it's that same road.

It's actually cross-able on a Saturday morning. Not so great on a week day during rush hours.

The sidewalk is on the south side of the road. It's heavily shaded by large trees that are part of the regional park at the intersection by the light.

Sigh. I'm not sure what I feel comfortable with. I think it's Metro for the foreseeable future.

[pfunk12]

It's actually cross-able on a Saturday morning. Not so great on a week day during rush hours.

The sidewalk is on the south side of the road. It's heavily shaded by large trees that are part of the regional park at the intersection by the light.

Sigh. I'm not sure what I feel comfortable with. I think it's Metro for the foreseeable future.

Guess I wouldn't feel too comfortable crossing it during morning rush hour. It's nice to see all the snow melting but those huge mounds require a heat wave to make a dent in them.

[Melalvai]

Here are some options. I don't know how feasible they are, I'm just brainstorming.
- Ride as much of that 1/3 mile as you can, and walk what you can't. You'll need flat pedals & boots.
- Get out the snow shovel and shovel the 1/3 mile of sidewalk. Maybe your neighbors will be inspired & join you! (Probably not.)

[pfunk12]

Here are some options. I don't know how feasible they are, I'm just brainstorming.
- Ride as much of that 1/3 mile as you can, and walk what you can't. You'll need flat pedals & boots.
- Get out the snow shovel and shovel the 1/3 mile of sidewalk. Maybe your neighbors will be inspired & join you! (Probably not.)

Melalvai - I suggested a looooong time ago that 7's darling, darling husband get out there and shovel that iceberg for her. What a wonderful gesture of love that would be!

[Melalvai]

Melalvai - I suggested a looooong time ago that 7's darling, darling husband get out there and shovel that iceberg for her. What a wonderful gesture of love that would be!

Aw, they could make a couples thing of it!

[7rider]

Melalvai - I suggested a looooong time ago that 7's darling, darling husband get out there and shovel that iceberg for her. What a wonderful gesture of love that would be!

HA!!!
Yeah. That'll be the day.
Using a broom to brush broken glass out of the way? ...sure.
Shovel a mountain of ice? Uh. No.

I did think of carrying my bike, but unfortunately, it's not really practical where the worst of it is. It's private driveways, fences, and/or a 10' drop over a guardrail into pricker bushes on the non-road side of the 'bergs.

I thought of Yehuda Moon and this about my option:


But then realized, it was more like this: