CARLESS FOR ONE MONTH

CARLESS FOR ONE MONTH

So the first month has passed.

The first three weeks passed without much exception. However, the last week has been, shall I say painful.

Last Friday my g/f "kutenai hippy lady" got hit by a car whilst riding her bike to work downtown. She suffered a separated shoulder and various bruises. Luckily she was helped by several bike messengers who don't take kindly to that kind of thing. KHL is doing ok, her arm will be in the sling for another few days yet.

On Tuesday this week it was my turn. I had just come out of the dangerous intersection of Adanac and Boundary Rd [heading east] going along minding my own biznus when a red Toyota nudged me with her passenger mirror. Luckily, it was more of prod than a push or shove and the Toyota was not travelling very fast. However, it sped off fast enough after my few choice cuss words came from me.

Last week on my way home travelling at 70kmph as you do down Burnaby Mtn, hearing nothing but wind, I had to make an emergency stop due to a fire truck. The resulting skid and corresponding flat spot on my tire cost me $70 for a pair of new Armadillo tires. These new tires are like rocks, but they also have a lot more traction than the previous, so it feels like I am working harder.

And it still has not rained....

Day 15

It has now been just over two weeks since I returned my van to the dealer.

The repairs are complete, I just have to pay for them.

Last weekend I did a fair bit of riding, downtown and back Friday PM, out to Port Moody on Saturday and out to Cates Park in North Vancouver for Under the Volcano - my ass is killing me.

However, I have moved my bike seat ever so slightly to the left and raised it about 1cm and now the pain has subsided considerably.

Today is also the first day it looks like rain, the first in over a month; the temp has dropped about 10 degrees.

This weekend my parents are going out of town and leaving their Ford Escort in my capable hands for the week.

I am picking up small quantities of groceries as I need them on my way home from work, it seems to be working out fine. Not had need for a big shop yet.

Gas prices have reached $1.12 per litre !!!

Week One complete

Day 7

It has been a week since I returned my leased vehicle to the dealer.

Over the weekend I rode my bike to ALL the events I attended; one on Saturday night, the other all day Sunday. By the time Sunday PM came around my nether regions needed a rest. Normally I wear my regular workday shorts for my commute, however longer treks need more padding and protection.

Last night I took my tire pressure only to find both tires at 27 psi. No wonder I was slowing down - tire pressure will do that.

If I am to keep commuting over the winter I will need better gear. particularly the rain jacket. The only problem commuting from SFU is that there are no lights from the campus to the bottom of the hill. It is bad enough reach speeds of 70km/h in dry - daylight, but in complete darkness and rain it would be suicidal. I would have to pay the $2.25 and get off the bus at the bottom of the hill.

There is a movement afoot at SFU to get faculty and staff a transit pass similar to the students U-PASS. Apparently, SFU are talking to Translink about this. SFU just jacked up is ridiculously low car parking rates by 20%. Combine this with recent gas price increases and you have more people seriously considering leaving their vehicles at home, even with our less than adequate bus services.

I am picking up groceries from my local "Red Apple" market at I need them on the way home. I need to go there more often since I have limited space to carry them.

So far I have no reason to miss my vehicle - it has not rained in the last week.