Cycling Community

First off, I would like to apologise for not writing in so very long. What I'm writing about today I am very excited about. I have recently joined a new community in Vancouver, the cycling community. Beginning this past Friday, I have started riding my bike to work (Victoria & 41st to Granville & Hastings). My first morning I was so nervous. I had done a trial run on Wednesday night but this did not seem to calm my nerves. While I have grown accustomed to riding in traffic, lowermainland city traffic and Downtown Vancouver traffic are two completely different things. The majority of my ride is on really great designated bike lanes down some of the most beautiful streets in Vancouver. Along my ride I see great old houses and ride down roads lined with beautiful old trees. Following this I ride along a seaside path that runs along the inlet (down around Science World). It is after the seaside path that I must enter Downtown traffic to get to work. It is here that I will point out how lucky we are in Vancouver to have such a bike conscious city. There are bike lanes on many of the major roads downtown making it easier for us to get to our Downtown destinations. And while many cars are not happy that we are there, they take the necessary precautions to make sure they and we stay safe (most of the time!).

So, my first day riding into the city during rush hour was quite the experience. I learned many many things. Did you know that there is such a thing as, bike traffic. Several times I found myself stuck behind a slow cylcist or jammed at a street light with several more cyclists. I was passed by some faster riders and when I gained the courage, I passed some riders myself. I also learned some very good routes NOT to take on my way to work. Do not get onto Expo Blvd before Nelson as there is construction and trucks do not care one bit whether you have to ride in their lane or not! Pedestrians think that they can walk out in front of you because you are not a car. This is very very frustrating. I have also learned that coming home will always be harder than going to work and not only because the entire way home is up hill; it is more hot, more humid, there is more traffic and more people who care more about getting home than where you may be on the road. Despite some of these things, I feel really safe riding to work. I honestly would rather be on my bike than on the road in a car.

Above everything else I am so pleased that I am now riding to work. It truly is an amazing feeling in the morning arriving to work on a bike knowing that I contributed just a little bit to the environment, saved a lot of money, and did something healthy for my body. All of this acheived in a short hour before work. And then I get to do it all over again after work! I am most definately a proud new member of the cycling community in Vancouver.