Ahh, the chill of winter. The deeeep chill of winter. I must admit, I have been off the bike since Thanksgiving when we got a bunch of snow. The guilt for the past few weeks comes in waves, then I remember that I exist on the planet to do many things...one of them being to save my own skin. When the 9" of snow fell, cars and trucks were sliding all over the place. I questioned my own ability to handle the bike in the snow, then realized that no matter how well prepared I am, I can't avoid the sliding truck or car coming at me. So I hung up the bike, put away the panniers and drove the snow car.
Driving for the last several weeks made me feel wealthy. Wealthy because I had the option to drive, that I had warm clothes, that I have friends to help me. Just wealthy with choices. Those first couple of weeks after the snow fell, then melted, then iced over, I didn't see a lot of riders.Last week I started seeing them again. Not necessarily the folks with the full bike outfits, but more so the folks who have to ride out of necessity. Another reason I feel thankful for choice.
In the meantime, I've had plenty of time to reflect on what I've learned so far as a nearly full time commuter. One poignant thing: We cyclists may be doing the wrong thing riding on the road when we don't realize it. Approaching a turning vehicle is one of the most dangerous situations a cyclist has to deal with (especially when no turn signal is used.) One day I found myself shaking my fist at a motorist making a left turn across my path of travel (we were both going the same direction and the bike lane was on the left side.) I had an aha! moment when I thought about whether the car had passed me or if I had come upon the car. Really, I cannot remember if it was me or them, but subsequently I realize that as a cyclist approaching the left signaling vehicle, I must yield, just as I would if I was driving. I know that in the past I've had cyclists get po'd at me for not seeing them to the left...I know now that unless I have passed them and cut them off, that they need to yield to me as a driver. That is if we cyclists want to have the rights to the road...
Tomorrow, January 3rd, 2011, I'll be riding to work, no matter what the weather is and will continue as best I can for the rest of the time as I know it. Our trip to Alaska is scheduled, tickets booked and time off nearly secured. Training season has commenced.
Good tidings and ridings to you and yours for this new year. Let us all ride more and always be polite!
Until we ride again, Ciao!
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