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2007-05-15 10:01 PM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
Now there's an idea. I was thinking if I could make it one whole week, then maybe the next week would be easy, then the next....


2007-05-15 10:24 PM
in reply to: #801955

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
ScottoNM - 2007-05-15 4:12 PM

max - 2007-05-15 4:59 PM

I work from 3 PM until 1:30 AM with a 12 mile ride each way.  I'm not too keen on riding home at that time, past all the bars that are just closing down!

 

Is there an alternate route that doesn't go right past the bars?

(You know you brought this on yourself by volunteering your excuse. Cool)

 



The alternate route probably has all the drunk drivers attempting to avoid their 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. DWI/DUI. I'd vote for driving over cycling that time of the morning.
2007-05-15 10:59 PM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
I've been biking to class (my version of work for the time being....and yes, fully clothed) every day for a couple of weeks now.  That doesn't mean much since even my farthest classes are within a mile of my house, but I've also started biking to the gym, to the store, and anywhere else that's a reasonable distance, so I usually get in at least a couple of miles every day.  It's nice being near campus....everything you could ever want is w/in a couple of miles!  I used to be lazy and drive those couple of miles though, but now I'm bummed when I have to actually use my car to go anywhere since it's so much less fun.  I don't really trust my neighborhood though so I still drive to my evening class....
2007-05-15 11:29 PM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
I was planning to ride to work tomorrow.. unfortunately, I got into a car accident last nite and my legs are aching. I don't think the doctor will allow me to bike to work this week.. or any exercises for that matter
2007-05-16 9:32 AM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
Up here in Maine we call it "Commute Another Way Week".  However, since I already ride my bike to work everyday (or walk if it snows) I decided to commute the same way I always do. 
2007-05-16 12:04 PM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week

I now ride as often as possible the 2mi to my carpool--fortunately I can keep my bike in a garage at my carpool-mate's home.

But, I try to run errands in and around town as often on my bike too.  It's fun, and a little bit of exercise, and sometimes--believe it or not--faster if you factor finding parking and lights.

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On another topic, has anyone encountered car driving jerks?

After a few weeks of commuting as often as possible by bike, last night I had my first two run-ins with moronic car drivers.  The first, on a stretch of two-lane road downtown that narrowed because of parked cars, I had to essentially ride in the center of the lane--a driver pulled into the oncoming-lane, passing me dangerously close, and angrily motioning me towards the sidewalk.  I would've flipped him off and verbally questioned his manhood--but he drove off speeding way over the limit.

The second occasion (on my same ride home), I was making a left on a residential street, so I had pulled into the center of my lane, was about to signal left-turn with my arm, when an older gentlemen in a shiny new S600 Mercedes pulls into the oncoming lane and passes me, giving me his version of a stare down in the process.  If he had pulled this jerk-off maneuver 4 seconds later, there was a good chance he would not have seen my left-turn signal, and would've run me over as I initiated my left turn.

Anyway, remember to ride carefully out there and treat every driver as if they were insane--because many of them are and think they own the road.



2007-05-16 2:00 PM
in reply to: #802912

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
guncollector - 2007-05-16 10:04 AM

I had pulled into the center of my lane, was about to signal left-turn with my arm, when an older gentlemen in a shiny new S600 Mercedes pulls into the oncoming lane and passes me, giving me his version of a stare down in the process. 



If the locals' driving behaviors are any indication, my guess is that anyone in a luxury car has the right of way - just ask them! ;-) Nearly all of my almost-left-for-dead stories involve mercedes drivers, save for one numbnut in a Ford truck.

Edited by betyoursilver 2007-05-16 2:01 PM
2007-05-16 2:06 PM
in reply to: #802912

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
guncollector - 2007-05-16 11:04 AM

On another topic, has anyone encountered car driving jerks?

I almost got run over by a campus safety car the other day.  I've always known that campus safety at my school is pretty much useless, but the additional irony of this particular event was nice.  Luckily I was paying attention and am an extremely cautious rider, so I was able to stop as I saw him cutting out in front of me.  So glad to know that the people that are supposed to be keeping me safe don't bother to look both ways before pulling out!

2007-05-16 2:28 PM
in reply to: #803152

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
betyoursilver - 2007-05-16 2:00 PM

guncollector - 2007-05-16 10:04 AM

I had pulled into the center of my lane, was about to signal left-turn with my arm, when an older gentlemen in a shiny new S600 Mercedes pulls into the oncoming lane and passes me, giving me his version of a stare down in the process.



If the locals' driving behaviors are any indication, my guess is that anyone in a luxury car has the right of way - just ask them! ;-) Nearly all of my almost-left-for-dead stories involve mercedes drivers, save for one numbnut in a Ford truck.


I have found right of way usually belongs to gross tonnage.

~fatBoy
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2007-05-16 2:43 PM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week

Y'know, in the past I was pretty indifferent to the Critical Mass bicycling safety advocacy calls (not that that is CM's sole purpose)...but I'm singing a different tune these days. 

While I've always been careful driving around cyclists, or cyclist-heavy roads, I'm much more aware (now that I've started riding again) that many--if not most--drivers do not share my caution.

2007-05-16 3:29 PM
in reply to: #803267

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
guncollector - 2007-05-16 12:43 PM

While I've always been careful driving around cyclists, or cyclist-heavy roads, I'm much more aware (now that I've started riding again) that many--if not most--drivers do not share my caution.



Same here - I tend to be very vigilant around cyclists, although it doesn't stop cyclists from (riding at night w/o lights, reflectors, visible clothing & while talking on a cell phone) running stop signs. I nearly ran over a guy the other night who pulled this stunt.


2007-05-16 5:35 PM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week

Can I ride my bike to work next week?  This is not going well.

  • Monday: off work
  • Tuesday: grocery shop after work
  • Wednesday: Leave home in the dark for an early a.m. swim, then to work
  • Thursday: rainy, and I have to get a run in today, not a bike
  • Friday: a BIG maybe because I would really like to make to the early morning swim again.

I'm with all of you in spirit!  Hope that counts for something! 

2007-05-17 7:02 AM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
I celebrated ride my bike to work week by having a National Get Hit by a Hit and Run High School Shithead and Total My Bike 5 Miles from Work at 5:30AM Day. It has not turned out to be quite a good day for me... I'm supposed to be going downtown Indianapolis tomorrow for the bike rally, bike is totaled, I'm pretty sore.
2007-05-17 7:51 AM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week

I did it! Don't know when I'll do it again, but I did it.

Sorry to here about the wreck, most people were quite polite around me. This might sound crazy, but more traffic made me feel a little safer, more witnesses. Dump trucks and merge lanes for Interstates were the scariest parts for me.

I did fall, but that was just me running my mouth on the corner with another cyclist, no real damage, but the bike was noisy for a few minutes.

2007-05-17 8:11 AM
in reply to: #798716

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week
Local morning show was doing a report on this with a helicopter following and providing live coverage of one of the on-air personalities biking to work (in a group).

She stops at a light and. . . . down she goes! Live and on camera.

2007-05-17 8:40 AM
in reply to: #804231

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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week

CCal - 2007-05-17 9:11 AM Local morning show was doing a report on this with a helicopter following and providing live coverage of one of the on-air personalities biking to work (in a group). She stops at a light and. . . . down she goes! Live and on camera.

LOL! I thought mine was bad, I heard one person laughing from a distance, but to be on TV, ouch! Probably doesn't help encourage people to bike to work either.



2007-05-17 9:10 PM
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Subject: RE: National ride your bike to work week

Tomorrow's friday, and the forecast is calling for rain, but if it's not raining when it's time to leave, I'm riding!  That will make three this week.

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