Biked to vote today
11-04-14, 10:58 AM
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Biked to vote today
...and this nice old lady who was 'helping' people feed their voting sheets into the scantron, goes "Still in costume? Wasn't Halloween last week?" One of the other poll helpers goes "That's his bike stuff to keep him safe". The response was "Oh, but Halloween was last week right?". 
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11-04-14, 11:14 AM
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...and this nice old lady who was 'helping' people feed their voting sheets into the scantron, goes "Still in costume? Wasn't Halloween last week?" One of the other poll helpers goes "That's his bike stuff to keep him safe". The response was "Oh, but Halloween was last week right?".
11-04-14, 11:26 AM
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Ha! It was just the standard slightly cold weather biking gear, clipless sandals, socks, tights, shorts, bright shirt, arm-sleeves, bright gloves, backpack and helmet attached to backpack (because I wasn't currently biking)
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11-04-14, 02:25 PM
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At our county courthouse there is an outside ballot box for people to drive by and drop in their ballots. We have vote by mail in Oregon but if you drop your ballots off at a collection center you save the price of a postage stamp. You can also go by on your bicycle or on foot, of course.
11-04-14, 02:55 PM
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Our poll workers just asked me about how many miles I ride per year - I think they had seen me riding around town on other occasions.
11-04-14, 08:29 PM
#6
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There's not a lot of action at our little community center for mid-term elections:
5 poll workers.
5 machines.
7 voters.
Short wait!!
5 poll workers.
5 machines.
7 voters.
Short wait!!
11-04-14, 08:36 PM
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Here's another sticker for you.
11-04-14, 11:48 PM
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All that just to get to and from the election site? How far was it from home? Or did you stop on the way to some other distant location?
11-05-14, 06:55 AM
#9
In the right lane
11-05-14, 09:58 AM
#10
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I biked to the pools as well. Voting took less time that securing my bike and talking to the gentleman about my bike. 
11-05-14, 10:29 AM
#11
aka Phil Jungels
I was going to bike over there, as well........ but it's only 300' from my house...................
11-05-14, 12:15 PM
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I wasn't eligible to vote. Hopefully by the next election I will have my US residency worked out.
11-05-14, 04:13 PM
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11-05-14, 05:05 PM
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No one took notice of my bicycle. I timed it well. No line for registration, but only one space was available to vote, a corner of a ping pong table. The best part was that I realized that doing my grocery shopping first would reduce the number of times I had to cross the main highway. Only one of the candidates that I voted for managed to win.
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11-05-14, 05:14 PM
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I walked in with my Xootr and backpack over my shoulders. A couple of poll workers asked me about it. The first thing I heard them saying to each other as I was walking toward them was "What is that?"
One said "You brought your car with you." I said "This is how I get around."
The lady taking my completed ballot asked if I could use it in the winter. I said "Nope. I would kill myself with this on the ice. I use studded tires on my bicycle for winter riding." I don't think she believed me.
As I walked out the ladies said, "Be careful out there." I thanked them.
There are no bicycle racks at the little courthouse in town. There are some metal hand rails along the walkways and stairs. When I use my bicycle to go there I use those.
One said "You brought your car with you." I said "This is how I get around."
The lady taking my completed ballot asked if I could use it in the winter. I said "Nope. I would kill myself with this on the ice. I use studded tires on my bicycle for winter riding." I don't think she believed me.
As I walked out the ladies said, "Be careful out there." I thanked them.
There are no bicycle racks at the little courthouse in town. There are some metal hand rails along the walkways and stairs. When I use my bicycle to go there I use those.
11-05-14, 06:18 PM
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I biked to the polls as well. But since I just wear cargo shorts and a polo shirt to ride my bike, no one took any notice whatsoever. But I will remember that "Halloweeen" line and try to use it next year although, it might be tough in New Orleans 'cause nobody wears cycling costumes here, not even during Mardi Gras.
11-05-14, 06:44 PM
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11-05-14, 06:54 PM
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In the right lane
11-05-14, 09:55 PM
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I didn't bike to vote -- i voted a block and a half from my house, and I jogged/ran that distance.
I did, however, wear my bike stuff to a halloween party! Party was a few miles from my house and I wore my distinctive mesh vest with front and back blinking lights built in, plus my right pant leg rolled up and my helmet. I gave up on the 'costume' though and put my helmet and vest away after a minute or two. Wasn't really in to the 'costume' thing this year given the amount of $$/time it would have taken to do something beyond "this is what I wear when I ride my bike!"
I did, however, wear my bike stuff to a halloween party! Party was a few miles from my house and I wore my distinctive mesh vest with front and back blinking lights built in, plus my right pant leg rolled up and my helmet. I gave up on the 'costume' though and put my helmet and vest away after a minute or two. Wasn't really in to the 'costume' thing this year given the amount of $$/time it would have taken to do something beyond "this is what I wear when I ride my bike!"
11-05-14, 10:06 PM
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I also rode to the polls in my "costume", ie. jersey & shorts (normal shoes for utility riding). Brought my bike in, and was greeted by friendly poll watchers. Voted, and when I was finished one asked how long I've been riding -- answer, since 1965. Then the other and I conversed about his son and daughter in law who are active cyclists in Hawaii.
This kind of positive interaction with the general public is par for the course here in Metro NYC.
This kind of positive interaction with the general public is par for the course here in Metro NYC.
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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11-06-14, 01:23 AM
#23
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I didn't bike to vote -- i voted a block and a half from my house, and I jogged/ran that distance.
I did, however, wear my bike stuff to a halloween party! Party was a few miles from my house and I wore my distinctive mesh vest with front and back blinking lights built in, plus my right pant leg rolled up and my helmet. I gave up on the 'costume' though and put my helmet and vest away after a minute or two. Wasn't really in to the 'costume' thing this year given the amount of $$/time it would have taken to do something beyond "this is what I wear when I ride my bike!"
I did, however, wear my bike stuff to a halloween party! Party was a few miles from my house and I wore my distinctive mesh vest with front and back blinking lights built in, plus my right pant leg rolled up and my helmet. I gave up on the 'costume' though and put my helmet and vest away after a minute or two. Wasn't really in to the 'costume' thing this year given the amount of $$/time it would have taken to do something beyond "this is what I wear when I ride my bike!"
BTW, it's great to see you posting here again!!!
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11-06-14, 01:55 AM
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the day before halloween 2 Jehovah witness's came to my door, wife answered. She knew who they were but played it off. "great costumes but you cant have any candy because your a day early and too old".
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11-06-14, 01:58 AM
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