n9viw
05-16-2008, 09:55 AM
I drove to work yesterday. :(
In all fairness, it was partly because I knew I'd be transporting some stuff home that night, but also because I meet with some friends every Thursday near my work, and we typically don't break up until after 9pm. If I were to ride, I'd be riding home in the dark.
Of course, to cement my angst at having driven, the day was clear and sunny, and on my way to meet up with the guys, I hit a traffic jam that took 20 minutes to crawl two blocks, for no darn good reason. So, while I sat, I scoped area sidewalks and potential routes (an inescapable part of the route is some pretty busy streets, and crossing I-94!) to traverse on the bike.
I rode until December 1st last year, and by the time we got there, I was riding in the dark both morning and evening. Somehow, though, since I was riding at the normal 'crush-hours' around here, it didn't seem to be a problem. I wore my reflective vest, added more rear lights, and bought a new front light.
For some reason, the concept of commuting at NIGHT, like REAL night, in the REAL DARK, spooks me. I haven't done it in almost fifteen years, and back then, I had a bike trail that took me literally from the back door of my shop to within about a mile of my house, with only residential streets to navigate. My current route is four lanes, crossing seven other four-lane streets at various intervals, and two sets of railroad tracks.
Any wise words from night-riders, hardcore commuters, or cyclopaths?
In all fairness, it was partly because I knew I'd be transporting some stuff home that night, but also because I meet with some friends every Thursday near my work, and we typically don't break up until after 9pm. If I were to ride, I'd be riding home in the dark.
Of course, to cement my angst at having driven, the day was clear and sunny, and on my way to meet up with the guys, I hit a traffic jam that took 20 minutes to crawl two blocks, for no darn good reason. So, while I sat, I scoped area sidewalks and potential routes (an inescapable part of the route is some pretty busy streets, and crossing I-94!) to traverse on the bike.
I rode until December 1st last year, and by the time we got there, I was riding in the dark both morning and evening. Somehow, though, since I was riding at the normal 'crush-hours' around here, it didn't seem to be a problem. I wore my reflective vest, added more rear lights, and bought a new front light.
For some reason, the concept of commuting at NIGHT, like REAL night, in the REAL DARK, spooks me. I haven't done it in almost fifteen years, and back then, I had a bike trail that took me literally from the back door of my shop to within about a mile of my house, with only residential streets to navigate. My current route is four lanes, crossing seven other four-lane streets at various intervals, and two sets of railroad tracks.
Any wise words from night-riders, hardcore commuters, or cyclopaths?