Biking to Work - a report

Last week I declared that I would be participating in "Bike to Work Week" by biking to work several days. Well, I managed two days. The main day was Thursday - officially designated as Bike to Work Day. Originally, I was going to skip Thursday and bike on Tuesday and Friday instead. But, in talking to my good friends, Stephen & Enci Box, I discovered a way to make it work.

You see, I had a meeting at the White Memorial Church, in Boyle Heights, on Thursday. I wasn't sure I wanted to venture out, in commuting traffic, all the way to Boyle Heights. But I discovered that Stephen was organizing a group ride from Hollywood and Western to City Hall (which is only a mile or so from White Memorial). So, I rode with them to City Hall. By the way, this group of committed cyclists are some of the coolist people I've ever met. They are from all walks of life, with all sorts of bikes. Some were pulling sound systems behind them, many bikes were customized in some bizarre ways. A number of the cyclists in the group are messengers around Los Angeles. These guys are hardcore. I've seen them downtown, mixing it up in traffic, no hands, and talking on a cell phone. Most messengers ride fixed gear bikes. Oh yeah, and some just forgo the brakes. Who needs them, really?

From White Memorial Church I had a lunch appointment in Larchmont Village, so I rode the Purple Line from Union Station to Wilshire and Western and rode a short distance to Larchmont. From there, I made the easy journey back to the church in Hollywood and finally, back home at 6:30 that evening. All in all I put in 20.5 miles on my bike. It was a great day. My T-shirt had to dry out a few times during the day, but it was alright.

It feels so organic to be on a bike. I was so much more connected with the city. You notice everything (every bump). I only encountered one rude driver (just in front of my church).

LAist blog had a good report of our ride here. You can even find me in one or two of these pictures.
Watch a video of our ride to City Hall here.
LADOT's bicycling website
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

Comments

[jack]

Very useful