So, I got a bike for Christmas. I got the lights, I planned my route, and I went out and actually biked to work.

I've had

Two cars nearly turn left into me, one in the pouring rain while I had both a pedestrian walk symbol /and/ a green light and she was running the red turn arrow, with me standing in my pedals while going straight, hand outstretched 'stop', yelling with my bright front blinkie in her face. I know she didn't see me, the way she jerked to a stop...how she didn't I will never know.

One man snidely tell me bikes aren't allowed on the sidewalk. (They are, and my evening commute takes me on a road that, while 35mph and peaceful in the morning turns into two packed lanes of 55mph swerving speeders at 5:30. I take the sidewalk for a few blocks, at least until my new light comes in)

Two honkers

One motorcyclist tell me I was 'F*ing crazy' when I correctly stayed in the 'straight' lane instead of sticking to the right side of the right hand turn only lane.

A nice guy stop before turning into a gas station because he (OMFG) /saw me/ going straight, and flipped off the cars honking behind him. Anonymous SUV guy, you are awesome.

And a multitude of funny looks.

All in all, it's a lot better than I expected for South Florida - I think I've picked a decent route, though I need to tweak my evening commute a bit. I generally don't get bothered, especially in the mornings. Though I have gotten into the habit of putting my hair in pigtails when I ride - oddly, it really lowers the swerving and zooming. I guess guys and kitchen workers are a lot more offensive on two wheels than 'lil ol' me' Cheesy, but whatever works, right?

I've also found myself being much more hyperaware when walking around, even in buildings - looking around corners, stopping to look both ways. Sigh.

-B