Welcome to the fifth installment of my month-long series about me and the 30 days of biking challenge. Over the month of April, I will take my bike out for at least a short ride every day. I’m also hoping to reduce my car use and perhaps even shed a pound or two. You might also want to read my first, second, third, fourth, and sixth installments.
Day 24: Saturday. Elliott is hosting The Boggy Creek Farm Picnic Tour today (another installment in the Discover the City on Two Wheels Spring Urban Living Rides series) and so I’m spending the day with the kids again. As I load up our ol’ SUV and ferry equipment downtown for the ride, I start to wish I was going on this ride. As I patiently wade through traffic, desparately seeking a parking space, my wishing turns to envy. (Later when I see the amazing pictures and hear about the unbelievably good food, I start demanding that Elliott do another ride like this one soon and damn it, we better find a babysitter, because I’m going, come hell or high water.) I leave downtown and take the kids to lunch; when we return a few hours later the traffic has gone from a crawl to… what’s slower than a crawl? NOW I remember why I always take the bus or a bike downtown, especially on a weekend with an Arts festival. The kids are napping in the back, and I try to zen out, but it’s no use; traffic sucks. After literally 30 minutes of inching through downtown and searching for a place to park, I finally leave the car for Elliott. Then the kids and I catch a bus to a neighborhood playdate in Garrison Park, and the bus is crawling through traffic, too. By this time I am positively green with envy; yes, by helping with the logistics of this tour series I’m helping to make Austin a better biking town, but I’m not getting to do any of the biking! More and more I’m looking forward to the Pampered Pedal on May 1st… and you better believe we have a sitter. My ride for this day turned out to be a quick trot to the nearest Redbox to pick up a video for our Family Movie Night.
Day 25: Sunday. So I finally get in at least a little of our church travel on my bike: Elliott puts my bike on the bike rack, we all drive to his church together, then I ride the 3 miles to my church. Even though walking or taking the bus can get me there, the bike gives me more flexibility than the bus and more free time than walking. I do a little shopping at Central Market, explore the Triangle area, and stop at The Upper Crust for what is arguably the best cinnamon roll in the world. I meet E and the kids for lunch, then he loads the bike back on the car and we head home. Hey, it’s not much, but it’s a start. Baby steps, I keep telling myself… baby steps…
Day 26 & 27: Monday & Tuesday. Miles & I ride the Xtracycle as usual to school, but both days I have errands after school that require the car. Now granted, Monday’s errands actually ARE the car; ol’ Blue is now current on her inspection and her registration, not to mention 3 new tires. Tuesday I take the dog to the vet and then the groomer, both on South 1st. Even though they are both within a 2 or 3 miles of our house, I decide in the interest of our safety and not wanting to scare the bejebes out of my poor sweet old dog, the bike is just not a viable option. But at least the 30 days challenge has me thinking; IS there a way to safely get my dog to and from the vet on a bike?
Day 28: Wednesday. Miles & I ride to school as usual, and after school I need to get home for some seriously overdue housecleaning. But as I’m pulling out, I think, well, I really NEED a new pair a capri pants, too. Hmmm… cleaning, or shopping. Cleaning. Shopping. I point my bike towards Sunset Valley, and in about 20 minutes I’m pulling up to the bike rack outside Old Navy. Well, I have no luck shopping, but I do grab some chinese takeout as a consolation prize. I pick up Clara at her daycare and then Miles at school on the way home. We feast on low mein and I bask in the satisfaction of a full, fun day on my bike. And the best part? It was a completely car-free day.
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on May 3rd, 2010 at 8:11 am
I am really enjoying reading this series. Just started my own 30-day bike challenge on May 1–and by end of the day on May 1, I still hadn’t gotten on the bike yet. But I remembered that you would ride around the block in your PJs to get your ride in for the day and so I rode up the street for a bottle of wine (talk about a win/win situation). Thanks for the inspiration!
on May 30th, 2010 at 2:45 am
Children Bikes, Boys and Girls Bikes with Stabilisers…
I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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