Which experiences on your commute changed the way you ride today?
08-09-08, 12:46 PM
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it's easy if you let it.
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Which experiences on your commute changed the way you ride today?
From a different thread, this comment struck me. It got me thinking of how different things sometimes change our outlooks on riding, temporarily or permanently.
So...which experiences have you had while riding that changed your outlook on particular things you did or didn't do (routes, equipment, habits) before said experiences?
It could be as simple as realizing slightly wider tires made a particular path rideable, or as big as seeing someone hit, and deciding to wear a helmet/avoid a highway, etc.
Note: this is not a thread for discussion on the pros and cons of sidewalk riding vs. road riding. I'd like more of a "personal revelations" kind of thing, like in the example above.
Lots of cyclist like to try and make this a black and white issue when in reality it is not. Good example of this is myself. I am an experienced cyclist, I have been riding for years and used to race a bit, very used to riding on the roads and roads only. Then i moved to a new city. New city is not bike friendly, there are almost no other cyclist and drivers do not expect or TOLERATE cyclist on the road. In the first year I was yelled at had things thrown at me was swerved at and on at least 3 occasions had good meaning citizens pull over and attempt to tell me what i was doing was either illegal or legal but unsafe and they feared for my life, complete with the story of the loved one killed by a car while biking.
After a year of this and my blood pressure and nerves so high strung from the daily commute (I refuse to give up) I jumped on the sidewalk one day during a heavy rain that had limited driver visibility. Much to my surprise i started enjoying the ride, yeah i had to go a bit slower, and had to watch for driveways and intersections, but I no longer had the fear that everyone was out to kill me and it put the fun back in my commute. Been on the sidewalk for my commute since. There are other places I go in town where it is better to ride the road and i do and I always jump on the road anyplace else, but going to the business district i work in it is sidewalk all the way.
After a year of this and my blood pressure and nerves so high strung from the daily commute (I refuse to give up) I jumped on the sidewalk one day during a heavy rain that had limited driver visibility. Much to my surprise i started enjoying the ride, yeah i had to go a bit slower, and had to watch for driveways and intersections, but I no longer had the fear that everyone was out to kill me and it put the fun back in my commute. Been on the sidewalk for my commute since. There are other places I go in town where it is better to ride the road and i do and I always jump on the road anyplace else, but going to the business district i work in it is sidewalk all the way.
It could be as simple as realizing slightly wider tires made a particular path rideable, or as big as seeing someone hit, and deciding to wear a helmet/avoid a highway, etc.
Note: this is not a thread for discussion on the pros and cons of sidewalk riding vs. road riding. I'd like more of a "personal revelations" kind of thing, like in the example above.
08-09-08, 01:32 PM
#2
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Nothing huge, lots of little things.
I rode home one night in 16 degree weather. After that, it became much harder to convince myself to take the bus instead of riding. That, in turn, made me strong enough that I get to and from work faster on my bike than on the bus every time. That ride also made me add emergency bus fare to my repair kit.
I have the choice to use the MUP or city streets to get in and out of downtown. One night I rode home on the streets. I saw cop cars scattered around for a few blocks, and a person on the ground who appeared hurt, with the cops shinig their lights on him from a distance and no ambulance in sight. I turned tail and sat in a restaurant for a bit until everything blew over. That made me realize the street route goes through some unsafe areas, and now I avoid that street at night.
Forgetting my keys at work has led me to locking my bike even though it's secure in the garage at work... if I need my keys to leave, I won't forget them in my locker.
I rode home one night in 16 degree weather. After that, it became much harder to convince myself to take the bus instead of riding. That, in turn, made me strong enough that I get to and from work faster on my bike than on the bus every time. That ride also made me add emergency bus fare to my repair kit.
I have the choice to use the MUP or city streets to get in and out of downtown. One night I rode home on the streets. I saw cop cars scattered around for a few blocks, and a person on the ground who appeared hurt, with the cops shinig their lights on him from a distance and no ambulance in sight. I turned tail and sat in a restaurant for a bit until everything blew over. That made me realize the street route goes through some unsafe areas, and now I avoid that street at night.
Forgetting my keys at work has led me to locking my bike even though it's secure in the garage at work... if I need my keys to leave, I won't forget them in my locker.
08-09-08, 02:00 PM
#3
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After several near misses in crosswalks I try to avoid them (ride the street when safe). I guess I am MUCH more aware and a plan MUCH farther ahead. I have one section on road I will not ride. It is a "S" curve that people like to fly low on. Their is a privacy style fence along the road that severely limits sight distance. On top of that it is a pretty steep uphill grade. I refuse to ride the apex of the curve under those conditions. I am on the other side of the road riding the sidewalk till I get clear of the area. Coming the other way I run the street.
After near misses with right hooks I take the lane at intersections till I clear them.
The experiance have taught me to really be aware of what the design of the road is going to cause the cager to do and plan for it.
I am not ashamed to run the side walk. The roads are curvy here and almost nobody in my area walks so the side walks have no pedestrians to be concerned about their safety with me riding. If I am pulling grade on a long hill where there is not a bike lane or there is a curve...I may wall be on the side walk taking my time on the hill.
After near misses with right hooks I take the lane at intersections till I clear them.
The experiance have taught me to really be aware of what the design of the road is going to cause the cager to do and plan for it.
I am not ashamed to run the side walk. The roads are curvy here and almost nobody in my area walks so the side walks have no pedestrians to be concerned about their safety with me riding. If I am pulling grade on a long hill where there is not a bike lane or there is a curve...I may wall be on the side walk taking my time on the hill.
