This week, I have been biking everywhere. In fact, I've used my car once all week.
It's an attempt to live greener and to conquer my ever-present battle-with-the-bulge. I've exercised every day this summer and have been eating healthy, but my weight is pretty much the same. Not a huge deal for me - it's about fitness and health, not weight - but it's still mystifying to me. I have noticed on some recent runs that my cardiovascular health is not that great; the elliptical, as convenient and non-pounding as it is, just doesn't provide a great cardio workout. Biking, so far, is.
And it's nice to ride through Baltimore and notice things more. Like, I had no idea that goldfinches and red-winged blackbirds and killdeer live in the city. But I've seen all of them, as I bike through the trails in Herring Run Park.
Going through the busier parts of the city are scarier. I rode on Edison Highway the other day, going from Bel-Air/Edison to Highlandtown. Not very pleasant, but I didn't know a better route. I rode to Artscape yesterday, and it wasn't bad, but driving around the busy area of North Avenue and Charles Street isn't that relaxing. But I stick to the sidewalks, mainly, unless there are people on them. I just can't see risking my life on the road with traffic. I don't understand how people can do that, actually, when it's busy and there is no real bike lane.
It's been fun, so far, and I hope to keep it up into the school year - driving only when it's absolutely necessary, and biking whenever I can. I feel great, both in a fitness sense and a do-gooder sense. I'm going to keep it up, and hope to learn more and more about biking and trails throughout B-More.
Rowdies at Dawn
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I made the mistake of renting a place smack dab in the one section of
Prague frequented by 20something beer-chugging loudmouth apes. These two
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5 comments:
Not sure if I'm inspired or annoyed with myself for having taken such a long break from riding to work. Maybe I can get back into the habit.
As a sometime bike commuter, I've got to say riding on the sidewalk is more dangerous than riding on the street. I fractured a skull on the sidewalk, no accidents on the street. On the street cars will see you - they might be annoyed, but they will see you. On the sidewalk crossing intersections is bad news. Also sidewalks have unpredictable pedestrians and riding hazards (what caused my crash).
OTOH, I can't stand riding on streets that are too stressful. A quick look on google maps finds a parallel route to the main arteries. Instead of Edison Highway, how about Patterson Park Ave or Wolf St. I would never go on Northern Pkwy, but Echodale - Belvedere is fine.
Thanks for the advice re: sidewalks. I've actually been finding a lot of trails that run near where I ride the most.
For a long time I lived in an area that was friendly with me biking to work. Needless to say my expenses were less and so was my waist line.
Now I am in a area that is not biker friendly and drive. I want to go back but without bike lanes it is tough.
Oy, Jesus, Epiph, this post scared the hell out of me. I've been a bicycle convert for a few years now and put on between 50 and 100 miles every week. Sidewalk cycling is the most dangerous a thing cyclist can do. Something like 80% of road bicycle deaths occur when a cyclist crosses the street from the sidewalk. That is when the right turning cars kill you. They won't notice you, and if they aren't using a turn signal, you probably won't notice them either. You probably wouldn't notice them if they were using a turn signal anyway.
The safest place for the cyclist to be is in the street, 4 feet to the left of parked cars or the curb, but always in a straight line.
Even if the road seems scary, it is statistically incredibly safe. You are just as safe on a bicycle in the street as you are in a car. The road is safe, my friend. The sidewalk is a death trap.
-eebmore
Thanks, Eebmore, I hear you loud and clear. Great to know you're still around!
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