I know that supermarket offerings are becoming more eclectic, even exotic. But, during a stop on my ride home from work, I never expected to see anything like this:
Persian French baguettes? I’ve never been to Tehran, but I imagine there are French bakeries there, making their own versions of baguettes, croissants, palmier and such.
It’s always great to have choices when carb-loading, whether in Qom or Queens.
One way I know an artist is really good is that I look at, listen to or read their work even if it's in a genre I don't particularly like. One example is Hank Williams. I don't categorically dislike country music, but I can't say I'm a fan of it generally. I do, however, own CDs of Hank's work because he had an expressive voice and did work that, to me, is clearly art.
Musically, I would also put Amy Grant in the same category. I'm definitely not a fan of Christian rock, but I appreciate her skill as a songwriter and singer.
That is not the only reason, though, that I am happy that she has, seemingly, recovered so quickly and well from her recent bike crash--and is scaling back her touring and recording schedule. As someone who has had two crashes (in half a century of dedicated cycling) that landed me in emergency rooms--both within four months, two years ago--I wish anyone who's been sideswiped, doored or otherwise swept into a crash or other mishap that resulted in injury.
I know that some Christians will say she's "gone secular" and that others categorically reject anything with a message of religion, or even belief. I do, however, appreciate her skills as a songwriter and vocalist.
As a cyclist, though, I am glad she is doing well--and hope that her accident doesn't deter her from getting back on her bike.
An article about a bike lane in Reno, Nevada invoked, however briefly, a suprisingly-rarely heard perspective.
As if I weren't enough of a minority (ya know, being transgender and all), I am in an even smaller community, at least here in the US: a cyclist who doesn't drive.
There are a fair number of us here in New York City--at least in neighborhoods like mine, which are in or close to the central districts of Manhattan and the Queens and Brooklyn waterfronts. I suspect that there are more than a few of us in other relatively compact cities like Boston and Philadelphia and cities full of young, educated residents like Portland and San Francisco. But in most of the rest of the United States, nearly all cyclists are also drivers.
About the new bike lane, Reno resident Michael Leonard said, "As a car driver maybe I'm not as in favor but as a cyclist I like it." The lane in question winds from Midtown to the University area and is intended for people traveling by bicycle and scooter through the downtown area.
As a driver, Leonard probably has one of the same objections drivers often have: a traffic lane was taken from them, effectively making a one-way street for drivers, in order to physically separate them from cyclists and scooter riders. Also, others--mostly business owners like Jory Mack, whose family has operated Palace Jewelry and Loan at the same location since 1958--have complained about significant losses of customers along with the parking spaces.
Although I am not a driver, I can understand their points of view, though I suspect Mack has misplaced some blame on the city's casino owners. Now, it's been a long time since I've been to Reno or any casino, so perhaps the demographics of casino clientele have changed: Are cyclists clamoring to throw away their hard-earned money? Thus, I have to wonder whether or why casino owners would advocate for bike lanes.
Whatever the answer to that may be, I understand their complaints. For one thing, Reno, like most US cities away from the coasts, is auto-centric. (At least it was when I last saw it.) Also, I suspect that the customers of businesses like Mack's--ironically, like those of casinos--tend not to get around by bicycle or scooter.
But there is one facet of the lane that endangers both cyclists and motorists, if not equally: the traffic signal for cyclists. Apparently, it's not very conspicuous. "A couple of times I didn't notice it and I pulled out and cars were turning," Leonard explained. "I had to quickly stay out of their way."
I have ridden on lanes where there was a relatively easy-to-see signal. Sometimes it's not synchronized to allow cyclists to cross through an intersection ahead of turning cars--or trucks or buses. Worst of all are the ones on lanes where cyclists ride in the opposite direction from motorized traffic: If cyclists and scooter-riders get the "go" signal at the same time as drivers, it's all too easy for a left-turning driver to hit us.
So...While I applaud cities like Reno for trying to make cycling safer--or, at least doing what they think will make cycling safer--they need to be more cognizant of the actual conditions both cyclists and drivers face.
