I Love Riding in the City

NAME: Joyce Wasser
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, PA
OCCUPATION: Student, dishwasher, pet sitter—shall I go on?

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Pittsburgh, PA, which is becoming more bike friendly everyday. Yeah, there’s always some unenlightened person telling me to get on the sidewalk—never mind that the sidewalk may be posted with no biking signs. Potholes, moon craters—well that’s life in Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh just about every ride involves a climb of some degree or another.

What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?
I’ve mostly only ridden in Pittsburgh as far as just riding around, so I guess that makes it my favorite.

Why do you love riding in the city?
It’s relaxing to ride the trails and see cyclists and others enjoying the great outdoors. On the other hand there’s the rush of riding down 5th Avenue in Oakland traffic, trying to switch lanes without getting run over by a bus or the sense of accomplishment after climbing Stanton Ave up from Butler St.

Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city...
People always ask me for directions when I’m cycling—someone asked me where a parking garage was once. I was like, “Do I look like I’d know where a parking garage is?”