The weather could hardly have been worse for Bike Walk and Wheel Week. I've already said how Monday went, but Tuesday was pretty uneventful and the only nice weather I had the rest of the week. For Tuesday, just a nice 25-minute bike ride in to the office. I coasted down a steep hill as fast as it would go, enjoying the wind, feeling fast. I heard a sound and looked over my shoulder just in time to see a woman whip by me on her road bike. "No one likes a show off!" I tried to remind her, but she was already out of earshot.
Wednesday was rainy and muddy, I reluctantly drove my car. But I knew that Thursday the buses were free all day, so as I was leaving the office Wednesday I told my department colleagues, "I'm riding the bus tomorrow." They all started laughing. I huffed a bit, then someone said, "You have a 9 o'clock meeting, you know." Now I was upset. There was no reason to worry about that. I had studied the schedules and maps. I assured them I understood the system and could make the transfer. The word "transfer" sent them into hysterics.
Thursday morning was very light rain, almost a mist. I wanted to get to my bus stop, only 3 tenths of a mile from my house, a few minutes early. I arrived at the corner at 7:45 am, 5 minutes ahead of time. And it was a good thing, because there was the bus! I hopped on and settled back to enjoy the ride. I love mass transportation when I'm in larger cities, and honestly it has just been that "transfer" that has kept me from riding it here at home. We picked up about 20 more riders, all young college age kids. At what I estimated to be halfway to the bus station, and maybe a minute or two ahead of schedule, the bus turned onto campus. Uh-oh.
The bus stopped at the student union and everyone got out. The bus driver looked at me and asked, "Where are you trying to go?" I told him I was headed to the downtown bus station. "Wrong bus," he said. I was stunned. He explained that on university school days, they run an additional bus that only goes onto campus, then back to neighborhoods. No map or schedule I looked at had this special Gold Route bus on it! From every map I looked at, the only bus that would come by my street was the Orange Route bus that would take me to the station!
Talking with the driver for 5 minutes was more helpful than all my map and schedule studies. He even apologized, "It's on me. I thought maybe when you got on, and I should have asked. Maybe if you were 50 pounds heavier and your hair..." I took that as a compliment. He told me I could go back one block and catch the Brown and it would take me downtown.
I waited on the corner a bit, then realized I had no idea when it would come and (having already missed one transfer) I could not afford the time to miss another transfer. I was only a mile from the bus station so I walked it (with a quick stop at a downtown coffee shop I rarely get time to visit anymore). I arrived at the bus station with about 15 minutes to wait for the next bus going the direction I needed. With the specific instructions from the first driver, I had no trouble. The bus dropped me off a short jaunt from my office at 8:56. Four minutes to make it to my 9 o'clock meeting! I hustled and walked straight into the meeting right at 9 with my bag still on my shoulder. It was my department that was meeting, the people who had laughed the evening before, and my reception was great fun.
My ride home was uneventful and much faster, only 35 minutes from getting on the first bus and arriving at home. I felt like a pro already and bought a 25-ride bus pass. And that was only Thursday, Friday was Free Breakfast Day!
Friday morning it was raining, but I had only biked once this week and I really wanted that free breakfast for walkers and bikers. I wore my waterproof hiking pants and jacket over my work clothes and headed out on my bike in the rain. After just a couple miles my ass was wet. Just what does waterproof mean, anyway? I passed the first breakfast station without stopping because I wanted the one hot breakfast being offered and it was downtown. Free Broadway Diner breakfast made the wet, muddy ride worthwhile. I sat with a county judge and enjoyed flaky biscuits, sausage gravy, hot eggs and orange juice. A newspaper reporter interviewed us, but (in my opinion) she wasn't writing down the right things to include in her article. I stopped at one more station and huddled under a canopy with a few other bikers and hot cups of strong coffee. Having a wet ass at work is rather annoying, but there you have it: Bike Walk and Wheel Week.
I will call this BWWW a success for me. It has certainly motivated me to ride my bike and the bus to work more often. My commitment is to ride the bus at least once every week, and to get the boys on the bus regularly.
One more thing, did I mention that next week is National Bike to Work Week?
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5 comments:
great post, D. I was laughing and picturing the whole week right along with you. I am HATING filling my car up with gas. If I could get the kids to cooperate I would make them put baskets on their bikes and make the 3 mile trip to town. I wish we had PT I would subject them to that as well. Do you think the price of gas will make people be more "green" in their transportation choices or will they just shovel over the $?
I loved this post, DVD. I have been waiting breathlessly to hear today's report. You still have to get home, mind you. Or are you already there? Regardless, great read.
At least you admit having opinions about the reporter's job. Hopefully she surprises you and her piece isn't as pointless as you think. Also, I am all for riding the bus, but I'm so glad that you're doing it first. I need someone to blaze the trail for me.
We are all feeling the impact of oil prices in far more ways than gas burnt commuting to work and the store. Serious change is needed in many areas to truly make a difference in energy use. But to focus on reducing carbon use in a local trip is better than doing nothing, and can have a cumulative affect across the community. But I believe it will take 5 dollar gas to have any real change in people's local driving habits. Most people I talk with say they "can't" change anything else. We all can, of course, and it will take severe pain to make many people choose something other than driving wherever, whenever they please.
Just as important to me is sneaking in 50 additional minutes of exercise when I ride my bike, or an hour of reading or music while riding the bus.
As for the reporter, I meant she didn't think I was as funny as I did ...
Just a quick note on BWWW. I think it is important to remember the second "W" in that acronym. That one week is also meant as a reminder that an accessible community is a healthy community.
This is really Erick but I was too lazy to change the login info. To Anarchist's comments, I agree whole heartedly and for as much silly crap as Columbia does with respect to trails/bike paths/etc., I find the City's accessibility along the roadways deplorable. For instance, if someone wanted to go from my house to the Stadium, they would have to ride the accessible bus because there is no way to get there without going through potholes, gravel, dirt and generally taking your life in your hands. Perhaps a smaller grass roof (I know they aren't doing this anymore but it makes my point) and better accessibility could be a city priority.
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