The Commute

Bike Commute

Bike CommuteWhen I got my bike I was kind of afraid of driving in traffic, but now I’m getting more used to it and it doesn’t freak me out as much. I think of everyone using the road – cars, pedestrians, and bikes – bikes are the most overlooked. No one wants to get hit by a car or truck, so everyone is aware, and everyone knows the pedestrian has the right of way.. but where does that leave bikes?

Still, I’m getting used to riding in traffic, although I do still really favor the streets with the nicely marked bike lanes. I pretty much take Lincoln, which sort of turns into Wells, all the way from minutes from my house to minutes to Bike Commutemy office. It’s about a 40 minute ride, total, and about 30 minutes or so is all on Lincoln and Wells. It makes things easier. And I’m getting more used to watching for everything and watching for things in the bike lane – car doors, people, dogs, delivery trucks, moving vans, buses, drivers with road rage, etc.

Sometimes I’ll be waiting at a red light and a whole group of experienced Bike Commuteurban bikers will come up behind me, surround me and go ahead of me and then zip off the second the light turns green. I don’t mind that I’m not the fastest or coolest biker, though. Slow and steady at my own pace is what I prefer. My heart gets beating fast, I can feel the burn in my legs, I’m sweating (especially days like today when it’s 90 degrees or so) and I get to work in less time than it would take me to take the train. Oh, and I don’t have to go to the gym on the days that I ride to work. So, I’m fine with not being the coolest hipster biker.

Bike CommuteAlso, these photos were taken on my cell phone and should fulfill Chris’s request for me to get a bike cam!

Other things people have been asking:
– Yes, I have a bike helmet.
– Yes, we have showers in our building so I’m not gross all day at work.
– We have a secure area at work for bike storage. It’s kind of like an ally, but you have to request a key from the building to get into the locked gated area and then once inside there are bike racks and I have both a U-lock and a chain I use in addition.

Bike Commute

2 thoughts on “The Commute

  1. Pingback: rachelleb.com » Blog Archive » Alternate Bike Commute

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