One of many perks of going to visit my parents is that I often return with really nice stuff that they don't want anymore. Last Christmas, I inherited their Bose ipod dock and this time I got my Mom's bike! My parents have become incredible bikers in the past few years, and my Mom decided to upgrade from her lovely road bike to an even lighter and faster one. Everyone wins!
It seems strange to me that I have not had a bike for over a year now. When I was in law school, I was known as "that girl who bikes to school/church/work." I had a very cushy commuter bike, with a rack on the back for my messenger bag (it had to be pretty sturdy, considering I was usually carrying a laptop and a case book or two). One sad day, I walked out of the law school, helmet in hand, to find that someone had cut the lock and taken my bike.
Having my bike stolen was only the first of a series of transportation mishaps. Soon after, a friend loaned me his bike, but I crashed it when I swerved to miss a dog. The dog and I both recovered, but the bike did not. Then another friend gave me a Buick, which lasted for about a month and then died on the side of I-5.
Since then, I have been walking, using public transportation and zipcar, and mooching rides from friends. But soon I will be able to bike again! According to my friendly local bike shop, my new bike should be put together and ready to go on Wednesday! I am not planning to bike to work (the drivers in downtown Seattle make me nervous), but I am excited about riding to places like the farmers market and University Friends Meeting.
Lately, I have definitely noticed a difference in reactions to the fact that I don't have a car. A few years ago, most people seemed to think that I didn't have a car because I did not know how to drive or was a bad driver (I got my license when I was 16 and I am a fine driver, I just choose not to drive most of the time). But recently, with gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, not having a car seems like a pretty good idea. Maybe someday I will want a car, but for now I am pretty excited about speeding around on my new bike.
Yay for another carless wonder! I've never had a car (or a license for that matter) and it's true you do get some interesting responses to that. For many years people would be dubious about that, or think I was weird, or feel bad for me, and the majority just offered to teach me how to drive.
ReplyDeleteBut in the last year or two, I've had more and more responses like: that is so cool! Wow, I wish I could do that. That's amazing! I'm trying to do that too. That's my goal. etc, etc, etc.
I found Seattle a bit too difficult to bike because of all the hills. Minneapolis has been great because it's mostly flat so I can bike everywhere. =)