Hi, all:

I'm new to commuting and to this forum. I live in Arlington, MA, just over the border from Cambridge and am very close to the Minuteman Bike path. The first day I picked up my bike from the shop, a 7-year-old kid slammed into me, bending my front rim. His father, who was with him at the time, got into an argument with me about whose fault it was and rode off in a huff, refusing to give me his contact information.

From this experience, I guess that you just need to be extra careful of kids and people not paying attention on the bike path, especially on the weekends. I'd love to hear tips from anyone else who commutes into the city via the Minuteman Trail.

Also, I'm still looking for the perfect pannier to carry my laptop in. I have a great one that folds out to carry a full bag of groceries but would like a second one specifically for the laptop.