Summer construction
#1
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Summer construction
For the past couple of months the city (and maybe the state) have been doing some upgrades on the bike path I take which follows a freeway. Typically they put up a big sign on a sawhorse that says, "Road Closed". I smile to myself thinking, "It's not a a road", and ride on through. Usually I pass a dozen guys sitting around eating donoughts.
Usually no one is working and there is no earthly reason the trail should be closed. But then this week the sign changed to read "road closed from 6/19-6/30" now they have cars parked all along the path from fence to fence so there is no way to get my bike (with wide handle bars) thru. Now about a dozen guys are standing around eating donoughts and another dozen are driving heavy machinery and sawing concrete. Fifty percent working is pretty good. Still other than the parked cars there is nothing actually blocking the path.
So I've been relegated to taking a surface street to replace the last 5 miles of path. I miss my bike path so much!! Cars are crazy/stinky/fast. Riding this street this week has taught me how lucky I am to have a bike path going straight to my destination. I think I'll send some letters to the city councilmembers and state legislatures to let them know what a difference those 5 miles make to me.
Usually no one is working and there is no earthly reason the trail should be closed. But then this week the sign changed to read "road closed from 6/19-6/30" now they have cars parked all along the path from fence to fence so there is no way to get my bike (with wide handle bars) thru. Now about a dozen guys are standing around eating donoughts and another dozen are driving heavy machinery and sawing concrete. Fifty percent working is pretty good. Still other than the parked cars there is nothing actually blocking the path.
So I've been relegated to taking a surface street to replace the last 5 miles of path. I miss my bike path so much!! Cars are crazy/stinky/fast. Riding this street this week has taught me how lucky I am to have a bike path going straight to my destination. I think I'll send some letters to the city councilmembers and state legislatures to let them know what a difference those 5 miles make to me.
#2
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You don't know what you got 'til it's gone. In my city, we don't even have bike paths. Actually, we do have one bike path, but it doesn't lead to anywhere. You have to take a 4-lane highway to get to it, and it leads from one part of the highway to another. We also have a couple of bike lanes on two of the most dangerous streets in the city. I have never seen a cyclist on one, and I hope I never do because they would probably die.
I guess that's what you have to deal with in a city where the only people who commute by bike are guys who have had their licences taken away. About a year ago someone approached me about becoming a special advisor to the city's planning commitee. They wanted me to represent bicycle commuters. I only know one other person here over the age of 16 who bikes by choice. I just laughed and told them that I would prefer to let the Public Defender continue representing bicycle commuters [wink]. It's not that I don't think it would be nice to have some more bike paths or lanes, but there just isn't much demand for it. Even bike cops in my city ride on the sidewalk.
When that path opens back up, cherish it. You don't know how lucky you are.
I guess that's what you have to deal with in a city where the only people who commute by bike are guys who have had their licences taken away. About a year ago someone approached me about becoming a special advisor to the city's planning commitee. They wanted me to represent bicycle commuters. I only know one other person here over the age of 16 who bikes by choice. I just laughed and told them that I would prefer to let the Public Defender continue representing bicycle commuters [wink]. It's not that I don't think it would be nice to have some more bike paths or lanes, but there just isn't much demand for it. Even bike cops in my city ride on the sidewalk.
When that path opens back up, cherish it. You don't know how lucky you are.
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Originally Posted by JoeUser
You don't know what you got 'til it's gone. In my city, we don't even have bike paths. Actually, we do have one bike path, but it doesn't lead to anywhere.
When that path opens back up, cherish it. You don't know how lucky you are.
When that path opens back up, cherish it. You don't know how lucky you are.
Al
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bike, you should definitely write that letter. I'm sure those guys get tired of citizens telling them what they need, and would like to hear someone who's appreciative.
Joe and trek are right, there are few/no bike paths here in the southern Appalachians. This is God's country for mountain bikers, but very little is done for road bikers and especially commuters.
Joe and trek are right, there are few/no bike paths here in the southern Appalachians. This is God's country for mountain bikers, but very little is done for road bikers and especially commuters.
#5
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I don't mind not having bike paths. I prefer to go reasonably fast (18-25mph) and ride with traffic...
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Originally Posted by aadhils
I don't mind not having bike paths. I prefer to go reasonably fast (18-25mph) and ride with traffic...