Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Stop Last




When I first set out on my bike, I was a hefty 230 pounds. I could barely run for 5 minutes straight and getting around on the bike was a planned affair. To traverse the 3 miles on my commute to work would take a grueling hour, not to mention the massive bag I lugged around that slowed me down. I was constantly on the sidewalk ruining my fragile Fuji "Adonis".

...He has seen some shit

In the one year since I've started cycling, I have done two long tours: one to the Everglades National park and the second to Key West, which sent me to the hospital. Now, with more than a year's biking experience behind me, I can pedal 7 miles in 30 minutes while taking it easy and I can crush 3 miles in 10.


Video of the Everglades tour

Everglades! 

Currently, I stick to the road to preserve my steed, "Phil" Jamis. Commuting on the roads day and night has given me a totally different and unbecoming challenge here in Miami. It is one in which both officials and citizens seem completely apathetic and uncaring to; one I didn't realize as a driver myself. Cycling is looked down upon, scorned, and, depending on your bumper sticker, hated...

Mmmm cheeky...

Only once in my entire time cycling did I ever witness a driver getting pulled over after passing way too close. When I caught up to the officer, the driver was getting a ticket, not for endangering my life, but for illegally sharing the lane next to me with another car. I was the catalyst, but not the reason for the infraction. The officer argued that he may pass and that what he did was not illegal. When I countered with the 3 foot clearance rule, he disregarded it. This is a problem.


The Good ole days before my GoPro 3

I feel like this blog really isn't changing much and I have no idea how to move ahead. I guess the best thing I can do is record these license plates, send them to the proper authorities, and post them online. Is this a solution? No, but it is illumination, shedding some light on many who cannot afford a car payment, or, like me, want to be healthy and hate the hassle of a car. The solution is hard; it will take time and take convincing. We will need infrastructure, but for now education will have to spearhead the change. 

TL;DR: More bike lanes, I am healthier because of cycling, and 3 feet PLEASE!!!



Until next time!

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