I am sorry that I touched your car. I really am. You see, I was trying so hard to stay out of the way of the cars and busses to the left of me doing 35 mph that I forgot to also pay attention to what was coming from behind me. When you passed me within inches of my handlebar you scared me and I acted out by slapping the back of your car. A love tap really. Why you couldn’t wait the five seconds for me to clear the intersection and reach the bike lane is irrelevant. I acted out and I am sorry.
When you abandoned your turn, cut off a lane of traffic, stopped in front of me and got out of your car I realized the mistake I made. But again that is irrelevant and I am sorry.
I learned my lesson. You taught me good.
Next time I will take up the entire lane rather than just the portion I was taking up so you can’t pass me so closely and risk my life in doing so.
All sarcasm aside I am honestly upset over my behavior.
My new year’s resolution was to “drive to work less.” Seems pretty simple, especially when I already commute a few days a week on my bike. But when I told Monica this morning that I planned on taking the bus to work this morning she just about talked me out of it. I almost didn’t, but thought about my resolution and took the bus instead.
My first bus ride since working downtown went really well. We live a block from the busway and the EBA runs just about every 10 minutes and is a fast trip to Herron Ave. and Liberty. From there the walk is about 10 minutes. Very fast trip.
I only wish PAT had a pay as you go pass, not one that expired weekly or monthly. Once the weather warms up to above 20 degrees again I hope to be on my bike at least three days a week again, maybe riding the bus the other days.
The other evening after work as I was bundling for my ride home our vice president Shane asked me, “Is it worth it?” I responded with a chuckle and a yes.
I had my 2004 Toyota Matrix inspected today and the only things it needed was a wiper blade and a pair of tires to replace the flat I had. I have a feeling I will own this car for a long time to come. It has never given me a single problem outside of standard wear and tear on the brakes, it gets good gas mileage and I can jam all if my stuff into the back of it.
On my way home today on Reynolds St. I was being followed by a Shady Side Academy bus driver from about Linden, and fairly close. We both stopped at the red on S. Dallas. As I pulled up to the stop sign at S. Lang and slowed he came within what seemed like a foot of me and I rolled through, pulled aside and let him pass me. Ten seconds later at the circle at Homewood Ave he slowed and put on his blinkers to let someone off. I slowed to let the person get off, but when it became clear they weren’t getting off anytime soon, I hopped the sidewalk to pass.
As I am passing the bus he yells out for me to come see him. I almost didn’t do it, but wanted to apologize to him and move along. He starts in on me how I should share the road so I try to tell him he needs to give me three feet when he passes and a little back and fourth begins.
He was clearly not happy with cyclists in general but I am not happy with how I handled the situation. I should have listened, apologized and moved on.
I commute to work on a bike three days a week and drive the other two so I see both sides of the story that you didn’t present. From my point of view both cyclists and motorists break the law daily.
I cant remember the last time I saw someone actually obey the posted speed limit, or didn’t witness someone floor it to get through a yellow light. Every day I see at least five people on their cell phone, not paying attention to the road or their surroundings.
I challenge any of your sources to give me a day when they don’t experience these things as well.
Your sources point out a small subset of cyclists in Pittsburgh who put themselves and others around them in danger with reckless riding habits. When I am on my bike I am defensive, safe and predictable as are the majority of cyclists I encounter daily. I slow at all stop signs and I stop and cautiously go at all stop lights when it is safe to do so. I don’t obey the laws exactly as they are written, but neither do 90% of the drivers I encounter.
I believe your contributors should take a long hard look at their fellow drivers habits before they choose to criticize the way cyclists share the road. Cycling is here to stay, we are not going anywhere. Time to get used to us and work with us to make our city a cleaner, better city.
Trek should consider doing a more detailed version of this where you can keep track of your own mileage. I am thinking logging rides via cell phone that would show up in more locations, Facebook, MySpace, blog etc.
Before today I have never seen smog in Pittsburgh, but on my way to work while riding down Liberty I noticed the cloud of yellow floating above the river. I know it was smog, I have seen it in Phoenix and Los Angeles. This winter while at Seven Springs Monica and I noticed it all the way out there. This isn’t cool.
After some debate I ended up deciding on the Trek 7.3 FX for my commuter bike. I test rode the cheaper 7.2 FX and the more expensive 7.5 FX which has a titanium fork and better shifters. I could tell the difference, but not $200 worth! The 7.2 just didn’t feel like enough bike, it felt soft.
I am really happy with the 7.3, I have never owned a road bike and I am impressed with how it rides. It glides with little effort from me.
Once the weather truly breaks I am going to start riding in to work, I am too much of a wimp to ride on these cold mornings.
Oh! And BarkleyREI as part of their “Stay Healthy” fitness program will pay for up to 50% (over time) of almost anything that will keep us in shape and happy. Have I mentioned I love my job?
