Share the Road

One of the craziest things about cycling as a community is how unified and how diverse we are, all at once. You can have the most buttoned-up professional next to the most counter-culture free spirit, and they will bond over the shared love of bicycles. We may quibble over the need for infrastructure or whether single-speed/fixie is superior to gearing that exceeds available digits, but generally, it's pretty exciting to get the reminder that there are other bike people out there, cycling on the same roads.

And yet...

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As I've gained friends and found kindred spirits in my own little cycling circles, I'm also growing increasingly aware of just how much vitriol exists toward cyclists who dare to ride in the traffic lane. It's not a large portion of the motorist community, but some of these folks are pretty intense. Take, for example, the story of Keith Maddox, or this (now-defunct) Tumblr (archived records from the web, because it's apparently gone). 

There have been studies to show that as a nation, Americans are becoming more polarized and acrimonious. Is this because we're getting more informed about our positions? (The internet!) or because we can find our tribes so much more easily and convince ourselves that our position is not only right, but that it is absolute? (The internet!) I have opinions. Sometimes I have OPINIONS (all-caps opinions are louder, dontcha know) and I have made and strained friendships by sharing these on social media (THE INTERNET!). 

I definitely feel this way about the "who can use public roadways" debate that is pretty intense right now. I know I'm more keyed into it because, dangit, those roads go where I need to go, and all things being equal, I'd really rather take my bike to get there. But I don't really want to get honked at, yelled at, swerved at, or otherwise harassed along the way (that means you, hooters and whistlers...it's a little distracting when I'm also trying to make sure you're giving me my full lane, or at least 3' of space as you're passing me). It seems like people fall into a handful of camps:

(1) The roads are for everyone. Oh hey, because they are public. Also, Missouri law provides for the manner in which cyclists can use the roads, which begins with yes, they can use the roads. And no, they are never required to ride in a gutter or shoulder (though they may if they so choose). They only have to ride to the right when a lane is large enough to share with a vehicle who wants to pass them, and when the right of the roadway is free from debris, parked cars, or other defect that could pose a danger to the cyclist. So basically? They have every right to be right in the middle of the lane, just like the motorized traffic. 

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This is actually the safest way to ride. You are visible and you are relevant to the other travelers around you, whether on bike or foot, or in or on motorized vehicles. You are more predictable because you can handle intersections and obstacles the same way that motorists do, which means they don't have to guess whether you are turning across lanes, or going straight through their right turn, and, if you are obeying stop signs and lights (which you absolutely should because that's also the law), then everyone moves together. For more information, check out this website, and maybe take a local class -- whether or not you personally ride. I'd love to see this education made available to every road user, regardless of their preferred transportation mode.

(2) I'd prefer the bikes didn't slow me down, or rode to the right or on the sidewalk, but otherwise I'm okay to share the road with them. I think a lot of riders who are hugging the right edge of the roadway must at least hope that most drivers feel this way, judging by their behavior. If I just make myself irrelevant enough, I won't upset anyone... 

For so many reasons, this is understandable behavior, but it actually makes everyone less safe as a result. Motorists pass too closely, leaving little or no margin for error, and the risk of conflicts at intersections skyrockets (cyclist continuing straight while a vehicle to its left is turning, pedestrian conflicts, unpredictable behavior by the cyclist), and really, you're not slowing anyone down much at all... most reports suggest that it takes approximately 10 seconds to pass a cyclist when you practice safe and predictable riding techniques. Are we really getting this upset about a ten-second delay?

(3) Yay, bikes, but you don't belong on the roads at all. That's what sidewalks and bike trails are for. My taxes pay for the roads for cars. Law, practice, and reality disagree with just about everything in this position. The practices that marginalize your presence and relevance in #2? All the worse when you're on a sidewalk, because then motorists don't look for you at all at intersections or driveways. You're practically invisible here. Also, riding on sidewalks is generally illegal in city centers, so it may not even be an option. Finally, you're a risk to those who are walking on the sidewalk. Also, fuel and other taxes dedicated to motorist infrastructure: (a) don't pay but a sliver of the gargantuan costs of road construction and maintenance and (b) most cyclists pay some taxes and are at least part-time motorists, so they are likely contributing as much as any non-rider. Which is all to say: not enough, but all the while creating significantly less wear and tear on the road than heavier motorized vehicles. So they are actually helping by not being a car. But whatever. 

I have no beef with multi-user paths. In fact, I love them (yay, Grant's Trail!), but too often, they don't really go anywhere, or you need roads to get between them or to access them. So yay, please DO build more, and I'll use them, but suggesting they should be used exclusively would be like saying cars should only be allowed to operate on freeways. How do you get to the freeway? What if you need to go someplace the freeway doesn't go? Roads. The answer for both of us.

(4) I hate bikes and we all secretly want to hit them. See the Keith Maddox link, above, and maybe take a second to question whether it's worth the energy to maintain this ire and frustration. If you say something like this publicly and then hit a rider, it could be seen as motive or premeditation. Even if you think it, what is it that so disconnects that human and his or her preferred mode of transportation from being a human worthy of compassion, or at least his or her safety or life? You're not threatening a bike (two wheels, some rubber, maybe a little carbon and steel, but no heartbeat), but the rider (heart, brain, goals, family, just like you). And then, okay, let's say that you really would prefer to ride, free from interference from anything slower. Okay. Get involved and do something positive about it. I may not be a champion of all bike lanes, but I'd much rather see you advocate for every road to have a dedicated space for cyclists (even if it's only used to get out of your way from time to time) or meaningfully-connected multi-use paths, than to encourage or threaten violence.

At any rate, this is all especially relevant to me right now. Last week, a story blew up in the area about an altercation between the Mayor of Sunset Hills and a Fenton-area triathlete who was riding his bike and was injured. You can read more about it here, here, and here.

I am saddened, again, as support for running cyclists off the road reaches higher decibels so close to home. But I'm also hopeful. To return to the very first sentence in my post, the cycling community, however diverse its individual members may be, is capable of coming together and doing really lovely things, like riding around naked for fun. Or learning about this amazing city and it's neat little neighborhoods. Or celebrating birthdays. 

Or standing up for the local cyclist and the local cycling community. This morning, about two hundred local cyclists gathered to support the cyclist and to demand better from the motorists with whom they share the road. Because we all have the right and the responsibility to use them safely, and the obligation to share them with one another. And we all deserve a little peace. And, as Mother Teresa and this lovely rider's jersey note: 

"Peace begins with a smile." Photo credit: Wes Ridgeway

Peace.

PS:
Interesting discussion about my CyclingSavvy course review here.
(Link contains repost of my review.)

Post by Trailnet.

2014 National Bike to Work Day!

Today was National Bike to Work Day! 

What is National Bike to Work Day?

Bike to Work Day began in 1956[1] to celebrate and bring awareness to the option of commuting to work by bicycle. It is part of Bike to Work Month and the culmination of Bike to Work Week. In St. Louis, Bike to Work Day is the same as National Bike to Work Day, which, as far as I can figure, is the third Friday in May each year (May 16, 2014, May 17, 2013...)

I had never picked up on the existence of BTWD before last year. Before that, I was vaguely aware that the young and progressive folks in the city had taken up a distinctly non-lycra style of riding. (For those not from around these-here parts, STL City is geographically and politically and culturally distinct from the adjoining STL county, where I've lived the last 9.5 years.) I noticed naked bike rides, and moonlight rambles, and I was intrigued. And then, as I have written before, I started to see bikes everywhere that weren't these carbon-fiber speed machines. They had "swoopy"* frames, and swept handlebars, and rattan baskets, and the little part of me that had a pink swoopy (Huffy) frame circa 1984 wanted in. Badly. Unfortunately, my decision to buy a swoopy-frame bike (Fleur) coincided with a push to pay off some consumer debt, and so in 2013, I missed BTWD because I'd saved up for her*, and she was on order, but had not yet arrived (at the time, I only had my mountain bike, which is still in need of repair, and which is poorly fitted to me at the moment).

*er, that would be "loop" or "step-through" in real bike jargon...

**The Linus is a she, the Trek is he, and the Motobecane is whatever it feels like at any given moment. 

So this is my first official "Bike to Work Day" ride, but probably my dozenth (dozenth? is that a word?) or so bike commute to work, and I rode at least as many times to my church, where I have meetings 3 times per month, music rehearsal 3-5 times per month, and worship 3-5 times per month. So while this was my first BTWD, this is not my first rodeo, right? Right.

Today's Commute.

I left my home at 7:45 a.m., wearing a long-sleeve black tee, skirt, tights, and heels, covered with a black wind-resistant jacket, plus my Nutcase helmet and my cycling gloves. Why does it matter what I wore? Two reasons: (1) it doesn't really matter, that's the point - it doesn't have to be "cycling clothing" to be cycling clothing; and (2) here's why, for me, this is cycling clothing:

1. Dark top - it was cool today, but my commute has hills, so while I didn't sweat much or for long, I was still pretty warm by the time I finished my 6.5-mile work commute. A dark top hides any perspiration. (Busy patterns and certain materials can, too.)
2. Skirt - with the dark tights, I was sufficiently warm (it was in the upper 40s/low50s) and my modesty was preserved, and knee-length-or-shorter skirts don't get caught in your crank. 
3. Heels - I personally prefer to do anything in flat shoes, but my ballet flats died and my replacements haven't yet arrived, so the only court-appropriate dark shoes I had available were low-heeled booties. That said, biking in heels isn't so hard. You use the balls of your feet (where flats and heels alike are flat), and heels are generally more comfortable to bike in than walk in! I have packed the heels and worn flats, too, so that's an option if you are biking with something that will haul your stuff.

So, how did I haul my stuff?
I've been experimenting with the ten-speed for distance, because it's lighter and has more gearing options than the heavy, basket-ed, upright bike. The verdict is still out as to which I prefer, which is a discussion for another post. However, I've decided as I bring some older bikes back into use (the ten-speed was my mom's and is circa early-70s) I'm adding, at least, fenders, a rear reflector, and a small rear rack. The ten-speed's rack is very little, but it worked just fine with my "makeshift pannier" from my early Linus days. I shared a photo of it here.

In my bag, I placed my smaller cross-body purse, cell phone, keys, u-lock, lights, and (after I was warm enough) jacket. The bag has mesh side pockets for bottles, and I use the rear one for my water bottle (I kick it if I use the front pocket). This means I have to stop to use the bottle on my ten-speed (the Linus has a front bottle-ring in the Delano basket; the Trek a bottle cage on the lower frame tube), but that's okay. I fall into the camp of people who don't like to wear cargo when I ride. Not a cross-body purse, not a messenger bag, not a backpack. It's distracting, heavy, or flops around uncomfortably. So cargo capability is my thing.

OK, you're all set. How was the ride? Glorious. Frustrating. Hard. Easy. Worth it. Discouraging. Educational.

Glorious. You can't ask for better than lows in the 40s and highs shy of 70 with no rain or humidity. It's perfect. You're a bit chilly when you start, but don't sweat too much, and the exertion and breeze are positively refreshing. We don't get many days like this in St. Louis, and in my opinion, there's no better way to spend them than on a bike.

Frustrating. I'm struggling with fit and comfort of the drop bars on the ten-speed. It's okay for shorter distances, but my shoulders and neck hurt, and though it's easier to "shoulder-check" what's going on behind you from a ten-speed, I'd like a mirror. That said, the ride on this bike is stiffer and more narrow than on the Linus, which I consider a drawback, but also the posturing is more aggressive and the bike lighter, which theoretically, with the skinny tires, could make hills less obnoxious... 

Hard. ...if I had added a little air to my tires. They felt pretty good when I checked them, but I ignored the nagging feeling I should check the actual PSI (I aim for 90 on the skinny tires, as recommended), and they were a little soggy, which made my ride positively sloggy. Also, shifting on this bike (downtube shifters, no individual gear "landing spot" so you can be stuck mid-shift) is hard. So all in all, I found myself wondering whether I do really need more gears on the Linus and if so how many and fighting my way up the saddest inclines (and hating the real ones). Dumb. I should have checked the PSI.

Easy. I can get there from here and I've done it before. The distance is do-able, and had I not stopped twice for water and to let traffic pass, I probably would have arrived at least five minutes quicker than my Linus pace. 

Worth it. Bonus: adding in my Cycling Savvy knowledge meant that my commute on Clayton Road and Forsyth was so much nicer, because I was better able to navigate rush-hour traffic in a way that felt safe and effective. Unfortunately...

Discouraging. No matter how safe and visible you are, some people are frustrated, impatient, don't understand the rules of the road (for motorists or cyclists) and decide to take that out on you by honking, swerving, and passing too close for comfort. That happened today on my least-favorite stretch of road, and it's put me off that part of the route, possibly for good now. I'm officially actively campaigning for a bike thoroughfare that connects Manchester Road to Clayton Road west of Brentwood and East of Woodlawn. The options right now? Frankly, they suck. For everyone. (My reward on McKnight for getting through angry motorists on the 4-lane roads bumper-to-bumper 2-lane traffic, followed by a hilly ride through a busy highway/street intersection. Inhaling exhaust is not why I chose to ride. Blerg.)

Educational. Every. time. I. ride., I learn a little more about what works and what doesn't. Using my Cycling Savvy skills on Clayton Road made that part of my commute an absolute breeze. And on more than one occasion, I figured that I do prefer the upright Linus, but I still wonder whether I need to play with the gearing, or maybe even shift the stable around someday. Maybe the right bike is none of the three, but has elements of all three? A decision for another day.

Now what?

Tonight, I'm riding my bike from my office to meet friends, and then hitching a (car) ride home. I'm so glad I rode in, and so looking forward to a group ride and picnic tomorrow, but tonight I'm too tired to navigate an imperfect route in the dark, with sore shoulders and lingering frustration from the aggressive motorist. Which is to say that every little bit counts and it's okay to keep trying new things. 

I rode today. Full stop. That I'm not putting in the full 13-14 miles is okay and doesn't diminish the experience in the least. And I'm quite sure that my route isn't right yet, so I'm going to keep experimenting, or, if I do move from my current house someday (likely), I will absolutely be taking into account my access to bikeable destinations and effective mass-transit options, and giving them proper weight. 

Did you ride today for National Bike to Work Day? How was your ride?

Honk-Honk, Rattle-Rattle-Rattled...

Thursday, the hot weather finally broke, and I was feeling much better in terms if whatever is left from my recent cold and allergies. So, I got home from work, and I thought "yay! I'll ride my bike to my rehearsal tonight." 

On the way to my rehearsal, it was still pretty warm. I also had to ride pretty defensively at times, because the sun was setting and I knew it made me pretty hard to see. (As in, impossible.) You know when car lights don't make a difference that little lights aren't going to help you, no matter how much they blink. Still, it was a nice ride, an I enjoyed being back on the bike. My legs and lungs definitely took note of the time since I last rode (too long ago!!). Erffff. Back in the saddle...literally.

After rehearsal, darkness had fallen, and in preparation for my ride home, I turned on my bike lights. I set them to blink any time I can (anytime I don't need the steady beam to see where I'm riding), because it makes me easier to see (small, steady light is easier to ignore; super-blinky crazy lights might just get you to stop texting and not run me over). As I pulled onto the "busiest" street on my route home (4 lanes, but pretty quiet by "real big street" standards) a large SUV pulled up close behind me and laid on the horn. As they passed me, a woman in the passenger seat leaned out of her window, waving her arms at me and screaming obscenities. 

Awesome. 

Not.