Rather than calling this blog Borikua en Bici, I should've named it Borikua en tren o guagua (train or bus). I've traveled more miles on the train and on buses than miles riding the actual bicycle.
It has nothing to do with not wanting to ride the bicycle or not being able to endure more than 20mi on a bicycle. It has to do with the stories I've heard...let's call it: story induced fear.
A few days ago I went to happy hour with co-workers and one of them told me about a friend who's bicycle was stolen in one of the neighborhoods I would have to ride through to get to work. Apparently his friend was waiting at a stop light and someone on a pickup truck came around, pointed a gun, and said "give me your bike!" He recommended I don't ride by myself around those neighborhoods, unless I'm willing to ride through red lights. "Better get a ticket from a police than get your bike stolen," he said with a serious look in his eyes and then suggested "or ride with big groups."
I kept thinking "if I run red lights I might get killed by a car." This fear is even bigger since one of my friends sends me the statistics of bicycle collisions including fatalities. She does that as she keeps reminding me to ride safely and sends me very helpful tips on how to become a better and safer cyclist.
Ever since I fixed the bicycle I've been dying to go on a longer route, but haven't found the time or opportunity. I'm either running late and need to get on the train or bus since that will be faster and takes less time to plan the route. I also have extremely kind friends who offer rides to places that would take me more than one hour to get to on public transportation.
Borikua en tren o en guagua at least has time to read and catch up on all sorts of fiction, non-fiction, magazines, classics, and poetry.
Still, I need to find the time to plan my bike routes for my night outings or at least I need to go riding during the day with more people to become more acquainted with the neighborhoods I need to pedal through.
And who knows, the bike might have an amazing super hero personality I don't know about like the one in this video.
So far not having a car doesn't seem like a huge impediment, though. I have been meeting more people without cars. I've been doing more activities close to my apartment and in my neighborhood. I've been meeting more people and have been spending more time at the Library and getting to know the bookstores around town.
My favorite part of doing this however is not having to pay $150 for parking and not having to worry about driving to the gas station or gas prices. I also love avoiding traffic -- although rush hour happens in the opposite direction of my commute.
Why do I own a car? -- I have been often wondering. It is sitting at my aunt's house, where my uncle happily drives it (since it is not a gas guzzler), and I still haven't even picked it up to use it on the weekends.
It has nothing to do with not wanting to ride the bicycle or not being able to endure more than 20mi on a bicycle. It has to do with the stories I've heard...let's call it: story induced fear.
A few days ago I went to happy hour with co-workers and one of them told me about a friend who's bicycle was stolen in one of the neighborhoods I would have to ride through to get to work. Apparently his friend was waiting at a stop light and someone on a pickup truck came around, pointed a gun, and said "give me your bike!" He recommended I don't ride by myself around those neighborhoods, unless I'm willing to ride through red lights. "Better get a ticket from a police than get your bike stolen," he said with a serious look in his eyes and then suggested "or ride with big groups."
I kept thinking "if I run red lights I might get killed by a car." This fear is even bigger since one of my friends sends me the statistics of bicycle collisions including fatalities. She does that as she keeps reminding me to ride safely and sends me very helpful tips on how to become a better and safer cyclist.
Ever since I fixed the bicycle I've been dying to go on a longer route, but haven't found the time or opportunity. I'm either running late and need to get on the train or bus since that will be faster and takes less time to plan the route. I also have extremely kind friends who offer rides to places that would take me more than one hour to get to on public transportation.
Borikua en tren o en guagua at least has time to read and catch up on all sorts of fiction, non-fiction, magazines, classics, and poetry.
Still, I need to find the time to plan my bike routes for my night outings or at least I need to go riding during the day with more people to become more acquainted with the neighborhoods I need to pedal through.
And who knows, the bike might have an amazing super hero personality I don't know about like the one in this video.
So far not having a car doesn't seem like a huge impediment, though. I have been meeting more people without cars. I've been doing more activities close to my apartment and in my neighborhood. I've been meeting more people and have been spending more time at the Library and getting to know the bookstores around town.
My favorite part of doing this however is not having to pay $150 for parking and not having to worry about driving to the gas station or gas prices. I also love avoiding traffic -- although rush hour happens in the opposite direction of my commute.
Why do I own a car? -- I have been often wondering. It is sitting at my aunt's house, where my uncle happily drives it (since it is not a gas guzzler), and I still haven't even picked it up to use it on the weekends.
Yes... I am still very new to biking in this city... **blushing**
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