Aftermath

I got out on my mountain bike last night and incorporated some errand running into a 16 mile bike ride. It was great to be outside, but I want my road bike back! It's in the shop now, waiting to get fixed. I might not see it for another week or more. I'm chomping at the bit!

I have to admit that I experienced a little bit of nervousness whenever I crossed a side street or an intersection on my bike last night. I was tempted to stop and look for cars at every street even if I had the right of way. My errands took me across a couple major roads, where I noticed that no-frickin-one paid attention to me until after they were already accelerating their cars. I wish I could shout out to the world to pay attention for cyclists! It's everyone's job to use the roads safely - not just mine. I'll continue to pay extra attention to what's going on around me, because it's my life at risk out there. But seriously people. You should not get a driver's license if you're going to ignore huge chunks of the traffic law. That really aggravates me!

Even though I want to escape to a world where all the cars disappear when I get on my bike, I know that will never happen. I was just getting really confident on my new bike, too, and now this. But I refuse to let the feeling that I can't trust motorists stop me from riding my bike. I'm doing this century, darn it! I love biking, and I don't want to stop. So I'll ride through the anxiety until it abates. I will enjoy riding. And God forbid, if I should die while riding my bike, at least I'll die happy. Hmf.

For anyone interested in bike traffic law in Michigan, check out this really helpful website. Or if you're not from Michigan, www.bikecommuters.com has a link to state-by-state bike law. Or you can google the laws specific to your city, like Grand Rapids, MI (start on page 4).