BIKE RANT
It's been a while... but this is a good one.
So there I was, riding north on Church, heading to work. All of a sudden I see this dark shadow out of the corner of my eye, and the slightest nudge against the rubber end of my handle bar. A shiny black Lincoln Continental just about tipped me over.
I caught up to her at the next light (which also happened to be my destination, so that was convenient). Her window was already rolled down, so I leaned over and said, "Hey." No reply. She had some ear buds in. Who wears headphones in a car?? Anyways- I said, a bit louder, "HEY." Still no reply. "HEEEEEEEEEEY!" Finally I got her attention.
"Do you realize you just about hit me back there?" I asked.
She had the gall to reply, "You should've moved over. I'm driving a big car."
"Just because you drive a big car, doesn't give you more right to be on the road," I explained.
"Well, as soon as you start paying taxes, and insurance, and blah blah blah..." she starts spewing out.
I kinda laugh under my breath. This is an easy argument to win. "As soon as you start paying the medical bills for all the people who have gotten sick from your carbon emissions, blah blah blah..."
She drives off. Typical reaction from a motorist. So I yell after her...
"POLLUTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!1!!!11!!"I apologized to the pedestrians on the street around me. They smiled.
End rant.
Stupid motorists.
.
Labels: bike, rant
My Dream Vacation
http://www.utracks.com/utca/index.php?section=trips&id=29924Scottish Highlands Self-Guided Cycle Tour! Only $1420.00 CAD. Plus airfare.
Man... I wish I had 10 extra days and a shit load of money right now. Quite the opposite actually, I'm totally broke, because of my new hair.
Labels: bike, dream, scotland, vacation
Weekend Update
Bex's Champagne birthday was on Friday, so we celebrated on Saturday at the Rhino just up the street. Good times were had by all...
We started here at home, and then walked up the street, and then came back, and then some people left again, and then came back. Tyndall is where it's at.
Prior to the party, though, I spent the day getting my hair did. It's did alright!
Sunday we went to the Caddy for the breakfast again, except I asked for a lunch menu item. I just really can't stomach the breakfast there! Runny eggs and weird tasting potatoes. The regular french fries are awesome though, so it's all good.
The best part of the weekend, though, was the fact that Ben was here! Sweet Joseph of Aremethea, I love that man!
More photos from the Rhino and breakfast here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenswift/sets/72157600279161788/And this morning, James,
Stef and I met up for some free pancakes at Nathan Phillips Square.
Bike Week officially kicked off!
See more photos from city hall here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenswift/518782912/ Labels: "weekend update", bex, bike, events, nathan phillips square, toronto
Biiiike Weee-eeeek!
Starts tonight. Movies at Dundas Square (ROAM and An Inconvenient Truth), Mass Commute and Pancakes at NPS on Monday, Bike Clinic and BBQ at Bandshell Park on Wednesday, Bike Locker Preview at NPS and Party at Clinton's on Thursday, Ride the Don on Saturday, and a Bike Art Show at the Gladstone on Sunday.
Man, I LOVE Bike Week!!
Check here for more details:
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikeweek/bikeweek_2007.htmI'll be there, will you?!?!
.
Labels: bike, environment, events, leisure, local, movies, nathan phillips square, toronto
Ride for Climate to Oakville
I finally got around to uploading the pics from the bike ride to Oakville we took this past weekend. It was awesome!
Here's a link to the set of Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenswift/sets/72157600130507755/
Labels: bike, environment, events, james, leisure, photos, stef
An Eventful Ride In
This morning was full of action.
I was riding up King Street, when a silver Toyota 4Runner pulls up beside me and asks me where my helmet is... it was
Bex's parents! I told them I don't have a helmet (I know, I'm stupid), but that not having a helmet isn't illegal. They just said to be careful. I bet you any money Bex's mom is going out to buy me a helmet today. Or not... but I wouldn't be surprised! She's the overly generous type of woman! Funny thing is, we were both heading to the same block (Church and Queen)... and I beat them here!
And then, in the business district, I noticed this guy on a too-small bike weaving on and off the sidewalk, passing me and cutting and me off. I caught up to him at the next stop light, and this is how the conversation went:
Me: "Hey... where'd you learn how to ride your bike?"
Him: "Wha?"
Me: "Where did you learn to ride your bike?"
Him: "Wha?" (I don't think English was his first language)
Me: "Man, you shouldn't ride on the sidewalks like that."
Him: "Yeah, but..."
Me: "Yeah, but, nothing. It's illegal. It's dangerous for everyone around you. And the more you break the rules, the less respect everyone else has for us cyclists. So just don't ride on the sidewalk!"
At this point, the light turns green. I say to him "Go!", but he just stands there. "Go, go!" I say. Finally, he gets off his bike, and pulls it up onto the sidewalk beside him, so I can go first. Now it was my turn to be confused. Wha?
Anyways- Neil says cyclists won't follow the rules until there are serious repercussions for breaking the biking laws. So, from now on, YOU BETTER FOLLOW THE RULES, OR I'LL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE A DUMB ASS. So there.
Labels: bex, bike, conversation, frustration, rant
HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!
And now, a poem:
A Chorus of Forests
by Robyn Levy, 1993
Somewhere over the landfill...
a chorus of forests
surround our souls
it sings:
flush unbleached paper
down toilet bowls
write recycled letters
swap second-hand chairs
fax politicians
recite world peace prayers
eat organic
from a breeze-blown hammock
pedal your way across town
collect pine cones
volcanic stones
listen to nature's sounds
illuminate the dimly lit
plant some tulips in the T.V. set
ban clear cutting
protect water sheds
dream multi-cultural dreams
from benevolent beds
harmonize with the spruce and the pine
do it now, while there's still time!
(from a t-shirt my mom bought me back when I was 15-years-old)This weekend, I definitely did my part for the Earth Day celebration. On Saturday, James, Stef and I biked to Oakville on the Waterfront Trail. It was awesome! I didn't think I could do it, but four hours of pedalling was easier than I thought.
And then today, Stef, Kylie, Bex and I started the garden. We raked away the stone layer and dug up the dirt beneath into four 4'x4' beds. That's as far as we got. There was SO MUCH TRASH to dig up. It was unbelievable. Someone must've buried their garbage there. Plastic bags mostly, because whatever was in them turned to rot... so fortunately, the soil in my back yard seems very rich and moist. With LOTS of worms. I was happy about that. A good start to the garden, I think.
Labels: "weekend update", bex, bike, environment, leisure, stef
If We All Follow The Rules, Cycling Will Be Safer... well, duh.
Yesterday, on my way home, some courier wannabe passed me on the right, only to get stuck at a red light 30 feet in front of us. I pulled up casually beside him and said (loudly, since he had headphones on), "You should try to pass on the left." He said I was too far over to the left for him to pass (which is total BS), and so I told him he should have used his bell to let me know to squeeze right so he could pass. I looked down at his handle bars, and I don't even think he HAD a bell. WHAT?!? Insanity, riding in the city without a bell. Also, completely illegal!!!
I says to him I says, "I'm just telling you what I've read about proper cycling." He didn't respond. The light turned green and off he went. I yelled after him, "Have a nice day!" I think I heard him say thank you.
I should've said, "If we all follow the rules, cycling in the city will be much safer." Cause, really, that's the whole point of having rules!
Labels: bike, conversation, frustration, rant
New Biking Season, New Bike
And not because my current bike got stolen, for once! I just decided I wanted a new bike. The bike I have now was purchased purely out of necessity (right after I was burgled outside of Salad King), and I didn't get a chance to shop around. I also don't like riding it. It just seems harder than normal to propel myself forward on it; I'm not sure if this is because it's a girl's bike, or if it's because it's a bit heavier. The seat is also extremely uncomfortable.
So, I bought a new bike from
Can Tire. Here it is:
Pretty sweet, eh!? I like it. The colours are pretty. And it's bigger, better and faster. Nuf said.
Labels: bike, leisure
Long Forgotten
On the walk home last Friday, we happened upon this bike, locked to a street sign post on the sidewalk in front of some random house.
Attached to the cross bar was a yellow notice, warning the owners of the house that the bike would be taken away if they did not remove it from the post. I just think it's funny; I bet the owners of the house didn't even know the bike was there!
And I love how the bike is described as "red", but really, it was more of a "rust" colour. I bet the owner's of the house were grateful that the city took the bike away.
Anyways- I've always wondered what happened to your bike if you forgot where you locked it up... now I know!
Labels: bike, funny, randomness, walk
