Communiting

[tulip]

Thanks Tulip. DC certainly has some rough areas.

Ok, I'm going on a reconaissance mission today to see if I can get through going a bit north. Lise, I'll let you know what I find

My commute is 14 miles each way, and takes me through a variety of neighborhoods, from downright posh to rapidly gentrifying to still pretty bad. In DC I have found that even rough neighborhoods are still someone's home. I've come to notice the regulars on their porches, keeping an eye out. And the girls jumping rope who would yell "hi biker girl" to me last summer. And there's the guy on the corner who's always washing his car and always tells me I'm going to win a race someday. Once a kid on a BMX bike yelled out, "Hey lady... wanna race?" It was really hot, and I was close to the end of my ride, and I was tired, but I said sure--to the next stop sign. As we zoomed past his house with all of his relatives on the porch, they all yelled out, "Go Mike! Go Mike Go!". It was really neat. Neighborhoods are made up of people. I say good morning and good evening and have a good weekend. Perhaps I've become a persistent oddball part of the neighborhoods that I ride through. I've commuted for four years.

But I don't take it all for granted. I vary my route so as not to become too predictable (and to keep things interesting for me). I don't ride at night, and if my gut tells me to be careful or take a detour, I do. I keep my cell phone on me (not in my pannier), and I don't stop to chat--all common sense stuff that I would do if I rode through Beverly Hills.

Frankly, I have alot more trouble with drivers regardless of the neighborhoods. Nincompoops in cars are in all neighborhoods.

I find that riding through different parts of the city really humanizes the city. I know more about much of DC than my coworkers who have lived in the area for 20+ years, and who are still scared to go into DC. It's crazy, but they are the one's who are missing out on a vibrant and beautiful city (and I don't mean just the monuments and such)

This is just my experience. You have to determine your own comfort level.