Today's commute was in the sun, and it was fun. I only encountered about 15 cars on the way to work, and about 50 on the way back. At one point, going over Highway 26 in Beaverton, I had to take the lanes big time. The road becomes 4 lanes, and the bike lane is on the outside of the inside lane (it's a turn lane onto the Highway 26 freeway). I routinely go over 3 lanes, and take the left side of the second lane from the inside. That way, I'm in the flow of the traffic, and don't have to go over two lanes to get into the left turn lane.

Well, I went down to the stop light at the left turn, and stopped on red. I was standing there, waiting when the fellow in a truck beside me (who would go straight) rolled down the window. I was expecting to get blasted for taking the inside lane, when all that happened is he asked me directions to a motel. I asked for the address, he said it was on Cornell Road, and I told him to continue straight ahead. The light had turned, and the car behind me waited patiently while we talked a few seconds, then he and I started out.

I cannot tell you how relieved I was that there was no confrontation, simply two people talking to each other. I guess the bicycle makes me much more available to all kinds of people. It's good to see this kind to be reminded that the great majority of people are of a kind heart on the road.

John