Back on the Saddle Again

After a very long, hot, bicycling-free summer, the temperature has finally started to break, and during the early morning breezes, we've been able to hop on the bikes and enjoy a few rides!  We've checked out Old Highway 67, the stretch from Texarkana to Mandeville that cars do not use for anything other than to turn into driveways.  We rode for about ten miles a couple of weekends ago and encountered only one car.  While we were out that day, we were passed by a group of serious cyclist (probably the Edge City group) who were riding on the modern Highway 67.  They were riding in a straight line and pedaling in unison - a very fine-tuned group.  But the goals of our group are different!  We're a social group, not much concerned about how quickly we get somewhere, just that we enjoy getting there.  However, we do want to ride fast enough and often enough that we reap the health benefits of cycling.  Wouldn't mind shedding a couple of pounds either...

This morning we hit the Nix Creek Trail and headed downtown.  We cruised by the Perot Theater, stopped at the Scott Joplin Mural, and rode along Union Station.  I never get tired of the Downtown Ride.  This is the one area in town that does seem to be bicycle friendly.  I'm so glad that the trail allows us to make the connection easily.

Traveling

I've just returned from a couple of trips lately.  One to Savannah, GA and one to Chicago, IL.  Savannah is a very bicycle friendly city, and I was so jealous that I didn't have time to rent a bicycle and see the city via two wheels.  If I ever get to go back, I'll try to schedule a work-free day into the mix and enjoy the scenery.

There were actually a lot of cyclists in Chicago, but it did look a little scary to me.  There were bicycle lanes, but they were narrow.  However, the cars seemed to respect the bicycles, unlike my experiences in our city. 

Seeing the ease with which cyclist and walkers got around in these two cities, each of which are much larger than ours, made me wonder why I feel so unsafe when riding the streets.  I think it comes down to respect; drivers here think that cyclists do not belong on the road; therefore, if there is an accident, then it must be the cyclist's fault - simply for being there.  There's got to be a way to change this...it may be that we have to lobby for bicycle lanes before anything will change.  What do you think?

      

While I was in Chicago, I walked to see the Harold Washington Library Center, the world's largest library building.  Unfortunately, I was there before it opened for the day, so I couldn't go inside, but the building took up an entire city block.  Someday I'll see the inside!