AI6YR BenAchievement unlocked. Went to the farmer's market on a combo of bus and bike. Learned many lessons... #BikeTooter
First lesson: the farmer's market here has no bicycle racks, and the folks in charge have ZERO idea what to do with them, despite the "NO BIKES" sign. They clarified and said bikes are fine, as long as you walk them. "NO ONE HAS ASKED US THAT BEFORE" is what they told me. They ended up letting me stash my bike next to their info booth while I walked around. #BikeTooter #Transportation
Second #BikeTooter badge checked off, also took a bicycle on a city bus. The bus driver was less than amused at my attempts to cram two folded and worn dollar bills into the fare collector and said "gimme those, I'll do it!" LOL He also seemed to be trying to whip around corners and hit pot holes, LOL (the bike did not go anywhere it shouldn't have, the racks work). #bus #transportation
Bonus another car in our demonstration bicycle lane. A car had eirher nudged a post out of place, or a driver moved one, or something here... #BikeTooter #ThousandOaks
Other lessons: I combined bus + bike to get there, and because it would be another 30 min for the return bus, decided to cycle back.
1. Don't cycle back LOL.
2. Google says it's 15 min of cycling, it was, in fact, 45 min.
3. One of the sections of bicycle lane (did not stop to take a picture, as I was hoping not to get squished like a bug) had been taken over by semis parked overlapping the bicycle lane on the right, and on the left there was fast traffic. I aborted that route and cut into a neighborhood. Not a good route at ALL.
3. 7-8 miles with hills and vegetables plus a backpack with fruit in it... was pushing it. Next time (if I do this again) it will be bus->bike only. #BikeTooter
nick@ai6yr yeah google maps cycling directions / estimates are arse. There's several alternatives, (around here at least) ridewithgps works well even on the free level. If you want to shop, get some panniers too, panniers rock, sooo much more pleasant that trying to ride with a backpack.