. . . but it ain’t easy.
In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and get some much-needed exercise at the same time, I’ve been trying to bike more and drive less. This summer I’ve been biking around town quite a bit, and learning a lot in the process.
1. My house is on top of a hill. I never realized this before. It is, though. No matter what direction I go, it’s downhill! Not so’s you’d notice if you were driving, but very noticeable on a bike. And it’s great for my self-esteem. When I arrive at my destination, breathing easy, not a hair out of place, having taken hardly more time than I would have driving, I feel gr-r-r-r-r-reat! Returning home, now, that’s another matter. :P
2. Ann Arbor is not a bike-friendly town. You’d think, being a liberal college town and all. But no. Maybe we’re just too close to the Motor City. (Public transportation has never really caught on here either.) We do have bike lanes on some streets, but they often end abruptly in the middle of a block, and the areas that need them most, like, oh, maybe, gee, DOWNTOWN? don’t have them at all. Actually, what scares me the most is riding next to parked cars. I’m just terrified that someone’s going to open the door on me. Oh yes, and making left turns. How the hell do you make a left turn in traffic? Seriously, I would appreciate some advice. Anyone?
3. You can carry groceries in a backpack. But I would really like a basket for my bike. I have bonded deeply with my bike since I got it a year ago, and I think it deserves one of these beauties.
4. I miss my car. Actually, I knew this would happen. I love to drive. Especially country roads, but interstates and even downtown at rush hour are fine with me, too. One of the things you can do while driving that you can’t while biking is think about other things. Biking, I find, requires intense, focused concentration. Even if I owned an iPod I wouldn’t dare listen to music while biking. Which brings me to my final point:
5. I miss my audiobook. As you may recall, I’ve been listening to Post Captain. (I’ve discovered more words I’ve been mispronouncing, by the way. Who would’ve guessed that the charming insult “blackguard” is pronounced “blaggard”?) But for various reasons, I can only listen in the car. Driving Daniel to and from preschool allowed me to listen for about half an hour each day that he went, but they are closed during the month of July. I have four disks left. It was due back to the library a week ago. Someone has it on hold so I can’t renew it. I feel terrible for that person — I would hate to have to wait for my POB — but I can’t return it until I’m done. I don’t mind the fines, but the thought that I’m depriving someone else… yet the thought of giving it up without finishing it… Aaargh!
5 Comments
There is a nice restaurant on 38th street, off 5th avenue NYC named Blaggards. They have all the possible meanings of the word.
Hmm, well, the next time I’m in NY…
Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for opportunities to use the word in ordinary conversation. Maybe the next time someone cuts me off in traffic. Gee, I can hardly wait.
You’ll need a stronger word than “blaggard” for that Julie!
Yeah, I know, but this is supposed to be a family-friendly blog. ;)
Hi Julie,
To make a left turn, you can get into the left lane, or even position yourself on the divider line in the center of the road. You are entitled to take up space on the road.
I just moved out of Ann Arbor, but always thought it was reasonably bike friendly. Biking was my main mode of transportation, weather permtting. Otherwise I walked and took University shuttle buses.
It’s important to choose the right routes when biking. Say you’re headed downtown from your house. Liberty street has a bike lane, so seems like the obvious choice, right? (And it’s the most direct route).
However, Washington St. has much less traffic and is usually better for biking. (To the co-op or Kerrytown, go Washington -> Ashley -> Ann.) Or take Lutz to Jefferson to William Street. Those routes all have relatively little traffic. If choosing between a flat route with traffic, or a hilly route with no traffic, choose hills. Hills are okay; cars are a menace. (Even on the sidewalk!)
Obviously, avoid Huron St. (I talked to someone once who tried biking but missed that concept and found the experience dreadful. She was still thinking like a car driver.)
“Trying to be virtuous” sounds to me like the wrong attitude. Like something to try for a while then give up. Personally, I find it so much more enjoyable to bike, and I while I like my car okay when I have to drive, I just never prefer it. I always wanted to be able to fly as a kid (superman style) and biking is the closest thing in the real world. That is probably why I am almost 50 and have never yet regularly commuted to work, and probably never will. (I guess I’d kill myself first!) Being closed up in a metal cage and not being able to move my muscles frankly sucks. (It’s true though, you have to give up audio books while biking.)
I’m really sorry to hear about Joey’s accident. Driveways and intersections are dangerous (not necessarily where cars are traveling fast, but where they’re turning or can move unpredictably). Riding no-handed can be exhilarating, but you can’t lose track of where the cars are, even if they’re sneaking up behind or from the side. I guess that’s obvious in retrospect…
As for hills… I know your neighborhood (my old neighborhood). Those hills are pretty tiny. You’ll know you’re really in shape when you enjoy the hills. Like runners who enjoy the workout… it’s pretty much the same thing, but faster and more exhilarating. Like superman.
p.s. Can’t you copy the audiobook, return the CD’s, finish listening, then delete the files?
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