How Was Your Commute Today?

[tulip]

Errands by bike today: post office, grocery store for a few things. Only about 7 miles, but I was glad to spin my legs.

[Tri Girl]

no commuting for me until August. While I don't miss work, I miss the commute. Once the vacations settle down (next week), I'll just start riding daily to make up for the commute I'm missing.

[Crankin]

Yesterday I rode 8.8 miles to the Farmer's Market in the next town. Like Tulip, this is my weekly "errand" commute. For 2 hours I gave out discount coupons to people who arrived by bike and watched their bikes while they shopped. I ended up buying some olive bread and 2 whole wheat scones, which made for a heavy pannier on the way back. Man, that bread is dense. I decided that since I was on the hybrid, I would do something different, so I headed into the Old North Bridge area, so I could actually ride over the bridge, past the Minuteman statue and cut through to the street I needed to be on. When I got inside the park, a ranger told me that the path is being redone, almost to the other end (it's hard packed sand, but it looked like they had paved most of it), but I could walk my bike along the side, in the grass. It was pretty quiet there, so the walk was nice. When I got past the fenced off area, and started riding up a small rise, a family who was visiting the park started clapping for me .
By this time, it was pretty hot and humid out, so I was dreading riding the heavy bike up my hill, but, it wasn't too bad. 17.9 miles total.

[e.e.cummings]

Beautiful commute this morning, the air was fresh, breezed by the kayakers on the canal, not too many people on the path. I will be going on vacation next week, and I will miss my commute. Going to Newfoundland to visit my parents. I even investigated renting a bike there but I am not that interested in riding with no paved shoulder in places, I have this image of me being blown off the road by a transport truck. I think my fitness will be made up of hiking yoga, and running.

Yesterday, riding home, I was passed by a guy riding a Cervelo (dh's dream ride) and wearing a really nice pair of cycle shorts - the reason I noticed is because dh's birthday is coming up and after losing weight he would like a new pair of shorts. Kept pace behind this guy for quite a distance before I could determine that he was wearing Sugoi RS shorts - boosted my confidence that I could keep pace with this guy for a while!

[ColoKate]

Speaking of keeping pace with a guy, this morning a guy trailed me from my neighborhood and into downtown. He passed by me and then I lost him but we came back to the same street about 10 uphill blocks from my office. I was proud of myself for staying in the street with traffic while he pedaled on the sidewalk. I've been telling myself to be confident and just stay in the road after someone yelled at me a few weeks ago for biking on the sidewalk. Anyway I passed him going uphill and then pulled up to my building and lo and behold he locked up right next to me a minute later. I left the house a few minutes late today but apparently we have the same route. I recognized his bike because I've seen it parked outside our building for almost 2 years so I was happy I could keep up this morning. He said "Man, aren't bikes fun?"

[JennK13]

Isn't that funny sometimes, the different routes people take? I notice that sometimes I'll be riding and chatting with someone, we split at an intersection, then I see them again when I come around a bend.

ColoKate, what part of CO are you in? I'm down in Centennial, and frequently go through Cherry Creek or down the 470 trail to add some miles to my 7 mile commute.

[lph]

Yesterday, riding home, I was passed by a guy riding a Cervelo (dh's dream ride) and wearing a really nice pair of cycle shorts - the reason I noticed is because dh's birthday is coming up...

uh-huh.

[ColoKate]

Jenn - I bike from NW Highlands into Denver, 5 miles on the dot. I'm thinking about getting on and off the trails to add miles too but just haven't nailed down a route!

[JennK13]

Kate, my DRIVE is 5.1 miles, but I HATE riding on Arapahoe so i usually go thru Greenwood Village which is 7 miles. We just started an 8 week fitness challenge at work where we get points for each minute of activity, so I've been cruising up thru Cherry Creek or taking 470 home. Nice to have options out here! (and glad the rain has stopped!)

[e.e.cummings]

uh-huh.

Okay, you've got my number! I did feel like a bit of a perv, staring at a guy's butt for so long...

[Ana]

On my usual route (on the street, mind you), the construction in one particular intersection has been completed so the opposing lane has opened up. Waiting to turn left because of oncoming traffic tends to delay my arrival a bit and left turns in general make me a bit apprehensive. A car pulled into the “right turn” lane in the opposing traffic lane at the light with the turn signal on indicating a right turn. The lights are timed such that the oncoming traffic light down one block on the other side gets a green light before my intersection does.

The light at the intersection turns green but the car hesitates. Since the road has two lanes, I turn left into the left-most lane and wait until the car figures out what is happening and decides to turn; then I signal and move into the right lane. This car stays in the right lane (so it wasn’t trying to turn into the left-most lane). I often move toward the right side of the lane in case any of the drivers feel overly inclined to pass me. This woman decides to pull up next to me, roll down her window and say “have you ever thought about riding on the sidewalk?” to which I responded “No, I just ride on the road.” She said, “you’re going to get killed out there” to which I responded, “Yeah, well it hasn’t happened yet.” Mind you, I have both front and rear lights as well as a florescent yellow jersey…so it’s not like I’m in a black hooded sweatshirt here. She mumbled something after that, which I did not catch. I didn’t get defensive because I was uncertain of her intent. It may have been a genuine concern for my safety, an annoyance that I’m interfering with her driving or a combination of both. I know that I have a right to ride on the road and that my choice to turn into the other lane of the two-laned road might not have been the most prudent but still...

I’ve learned my lesson: wait for the unsure drivers when turning left

How common are instances like this?

[lph]

I'm not exactly sure I followed the situation, but it sure is a bit baffling when people say things like that and seem sincere. Angry people are easier to just brush off, but what do you answer to something like that? There's a "youth page" in my daily paper for teenagers to write letters about things they care about, and one of them just wrote yesterday about how she was so upset about cyclists in the roundabouts and why didn't they use the sidewalks which were made for "safety"... And she's not even a car driver yet.

I want to say something along the lines of how riding in the street is the correct and legal and safest thing to do if you're a "fast" cyclist, i.e. faster than just doodling along (it is legal to ride on the sidewalk here, but you should pass pedestrians at a walkers pace), that I'd rather be the weakest party in the street than a bully on the sidewalk, and how I'm only in danger if drivers like you don't respect my right to be there... But I rarely get around to saying anything. There's so much attitude to change. I try to just behave like a car, be visible and predictable and aware, and hope that over time somebody notices.

[ColoKate]

We're doing a fitness challenge at work too so every extra minute counts

[ColoKate]

And I wanted to add, I've been yelled at for being on the sidewalk AND at riding in the street the last few weeks, can't win! Just trying to do the safest thing...bleh.

[e.e.cummings]

No sooner had I left than we had a downpour of rain that lasted my entire commute. And me without my rain gear! I found out how waterproof everything is! My bike got a nice wash. So did I for that matter. At least it was not cold...