The night before I couldn’t find my bike lock key so I didn’t think I was actually going to do it. But then the morning of the 14th I accidentally found it and so decided, gosh darnit, I had to do it; I had to walk the talk of a physical activity advocate in South LA.
So I did.
It was harrowing. That is the best word that comes to mind. I wore my helmet and pumped up my tires before I left. But right away, there were too many cars on every single street I went on. And not enough bike lanes (no bike lanes, actually). And I had way too little confidence.
I was going back and forth between being a car and a pedestrian (riding on the street and sidewalk), which I hate doing. I somehow managed to ride by a garbage truck at the exact moment it was dumping trash in the back and got a few pieces of debris flung at me.
I got to work in enough time. But when I went to unlock my bike to go home, I saw someone had tried stealing the front tire. It was detached from the frame, but still within the lock (good thing I locked all tires and frame together to a fence). I was shocked--this had never happened in all three years I had a bike in Azusa.
I made it home within the same time it takes on the bus. But to top the day off, I ended up a slight tan line where my helmet came on my forehead.
Other BIke to WorK DaY observations:
- A sign near my work that says, “NO CRUISING: Cruising is riding by the same place more than once within six hours.”
- Florence avenue has a bunch of really tiny cracks in it that makes a biker feel like they are riding a jack hammer when they ride over it.
- Garbage day is apparently Thursday
- I saw a young man driving along the most harrowing area of Florence, with what looked like grocery bags on his handle bars. No helmet. Changing lanes, turning with cars in the turn lane. I bet he didn't know it was bike to work day--probably just going to pick up some dinner for the night...
- Surprisingly a lot of people like to blare rap music at 8:00 in the morning.
4 comments:
haha I like the No Cruising sign.. that's crazy that you can't drive past one place twice withing a certain number of hours. They should put a speed restriction on that. No driving past the same place at 35 mph or below within six hours. I'm glad you made it though! That's an experience you'll never forget! Those are the best kinds.
Glad that you know how to lock up your bike. Hope that more biking will follow. Sorry that you are in an area that is not so bike friendly at least during the week days and near rush hour I'm assuming. I hope that you stay safe and keep everything together out there.
That is such a horrible experience, but I can't stop laughing.
Still Laughing!
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