I Love Riding in the City

NAME: Arleigh Jenkins
LOCATION: Charlotte, NC
OCCUPATION: Bicycle Mechanic

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Charlotte, NC. The Queen City. Charlotte isn’t nearly as populated as some cities I have lived in. DC commuting into and out of town daily you got into a rhythm. The motorists respected you and so you respected them back. Here in Charlotte no one respects each other and riding depending on the road is an act of shear luck. Riding through the heart of the city or “Uptown” as us locals call it is the safest. It’s crowded enough that cars aren’t going more than 20 mph. The second you get outside of that eight-block wide “Uptown” you’ve got to keep your head up and senses awake.

What’s your favorite city to ride in, and what makes it special or memorable?
Boston. Riding down the Minuteman Rail-to-Trail from work in Bedford to home in the heart of the city to find my canti brakes no longer worked due to the snow and ice build up on the rims. My cleats were also frozen in my pedals. From then on I commuted on a fixie in the snow.

Why do you love riding in the city?
You feel the excitement through your blood. It’s a rush that no song, beer or drug can give you.

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