Northern California - Today's commute

Some of you know that I ride to work everyday.

Over the last couple of years that I've been commuting (from San Leandro to Oakland airport), the number of riders has been pretty consistent. However, today I saw almost a 500% increase in the number of riders, and at least 3 new riders that I've never seen before, including one that was motopacing an SUV, :rolleyes: a fairly strong rider on an MTB in the dark of the morning (510am) who was running red lights and trying to keep up with me, and a smokey lady without a helmet puffing smoke in my face, highlighted the newbies to the commute today. :D

yeah I commute using caltrain/bike everyday. The ridership is increasing fast.

I think I might get a folder.

yeah I commute using caltrain/bike everyday. The ridership is increasing fast.

I think I might get a folder.

Aha! It's really cool. I'm able to stick it under my desk :) I have noticed more riders out there too ... :thumb:

I have noticed more riders out there too ... :thumb:
uhhhh I'm not so sure if it's a thumbs up thing ....

Hopefully the higher price of fuel will start a long-term change in the way people think about transportation in this country, and move towards a more European way of getting around.

yeah I commute using caltrain/bike everyday. The ridership is increasing fast.

I think I might get a folder.

I have 5 of them at my house if you want to try riding some....

There's even a pretty large increase in bike commuters here, an area much less suited for such a task than the Bay area.

I'm actually seeing a marked decrease in car traffic in the city !!! Downside super overly loud Harleys and glasspacks are in : (... every night Harleys up California setting off the car alarms, but at least I can breath.

just at my work, I think the number of commuters doubled. My manager comes in on a super Bent, front fairing and body sock and all.

It seems to be more common even down here in south sj. I was behind a 4axle hauler on the expressway and the back of the rear trailer had a giant "share the road" advertisement, paid for by the city of san jose :)!!!

uhhhh I'm not so sure if it's a thumbs up thing ....

Hopefully the higher price of fuel will start a long-term change in the way people think about transportation in this country, and move towards a more European way of getting around.

And hopefully a more European way of urban planning.

I'm actually seeing a marked decrease in car traffic in the city !!! Downside super overly loud Harleys and glasspacks are in : (... every night Harleys up California setting off the car alarms, but at least I can breath.

Do Harleys (or motorcycles in general) have emissions controls? I've never hear of catalytic converters or exhaust gas recirculators for them. There aren't even smog checks for motorcycles are there?

Motorcycles 10x more polluting than cars... Just read an article (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/highway1/la-hy-throttle11-2008jun11,0,1076364.story) on this recently.

Do Harleys (or motorcycles in general) have emissions controls? I've never hear of catalytic converters or exhaust gas recirculators for them. There aren't even smog checks for motorcycles are there?I think a lot of more modern motorcycles have some type of catalytic converter system, but I think such an item is generally one of the first things to be removed.

I'd be surprised to hear of an EGR system. Hell, mine's a 2005, and it has a manual choke and carburetors! :)

Downside super overly loud Harleys and glasspacks are in

Don't you know, loud pipes save lives? That's why the *******s make sure to give a blast of wide open throttle every time any innocent bystander who used to have good hearing is standing nearby. You never know when a Starbucks patron is going to jump off their chair and go running into the street without looking.. best to have early warning :roflmao2: