I keep crossing my fingers that once we get into the semester, people will stop going to class and thus more parking will open up.
It seems that this semester, attendance is not wavering. While I suppose I should be proud of my ambitious classmates, instead I find myself pledging my allegiance to Blacksburg Transit every time I circle the packed commuter lot. Even the BT seems crowded lately, and since it's unlikely a parking deck will appear overnight, I find myself searching for transportation alternatives.
I decided the perfect remedy to my parking woes would be to ride a bike to class. Actually, riding a bike remedied all of my woes: no parking problems, a little exercise in between classes, plus no high gas prices. Before this semester I hadn't ridden a bicycle in a very long time; I think my last bike had streamers on the handlebars, but I knew that once I got back on the saddle it would be as if I never got off. The expression "it's like riding a bike" sang in my head as I mounted my bike on my first ride to class.
Riding my bicycle as a child, I remember feeling like I could never go fast enough: I was totally fearless. Obviously I had never ridden down Main Street in Blacksburg. I have made the journey from my apartment to campus a million times, but it took riding on a bicycle for me to realize how steep of a hill it is. I barely turn the pedals around once before I am zipping along toward campus at what feels like the speed of light. All I can do is grip my handlebars and hold on for dear life.
I choose to ride on the sidewalk because as a driver I always find bikers annoying. I never trust that I can fit my car safely in between a biker on the shoulder and the oncoming traffic. Instead, I impatiently drive behind a biker until I can safely pass with an exaggerated amount of clearance.
I used to roll my eyes at bikers and think of the nerve they have for blocking traffic. Now as a bike rider, with cars zooming past, I realize other drivers seem to feel there is plenty of room to pass without carving out much of the road at all.
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See if you're still riding that bike in February when its 18 degrees out.
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Man, you sure can sell alternative transportation: constant fear of crashes, rubbery legs, and sweat-drenched lectures.
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There is a phrase that we should all learn; share the road. Bikes have the same "rights" and responsibilities as vehicles. That means to stop when there is a stop sign etc., signal when turning, go with the flow of traffic, and ride on the road. I often cycle to work and have found it confusing to meet other cyclists who ride against the traffic. I often drive a car and I do not look for a bike coming into traffic from the sidewalk. Bikes and vehicles should be able to share the road without mishap.
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The only positive to people riding bikes is watching them bust their face. Always the highlight of my week.
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There ya go.....I see no reason to be rude to bicycle riders but they follow ZERO road rules and are not made to follow the rules on campus. I could see where the confusion comes in to anyone trying to follow the rules. Botton line, follow the rules bicycle riders and maybe share the road would make more sense to us that are not on bicycles.
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