I Love Riding in the City

NAME: Julie Eisenhardt
LOCATION: Chica-go!
OCCUPATION: Union staffer

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Chicago. There are lots of bike lanes and no hills, so it’s pretty ok. There aren’t lots of trails though, so it’s hard to find somewhere to ride where you’re not stuck stopping for a light every few blocks. Oh, and wind. Yeah, lots of that.

What’s your favorite city to ride in?
I rented a bike in Chengdu, China a few years ago. It was a rickety old singlespeed number with a coaster brake. There were no bike lanes, the stop lights didn’t work, the traffic was horrendous, and I had a lot of close scrapes. The bikes would get across highway traffic by massing up and inching into the street, little by little. Everyone was on a bike or moped, really... from businessmen to schoolgirls.

Why do you love riding in the city?
How else would I get around? But really, I like that every day at the start of my commute, I make note of one car that’s near me. After the 5mi ride to the Loop, I’m usually in front of that car. Take that, suckers!

Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city…
I like to sing when I ride, and I love when folks waiting at bus stops or riding alongside me sing along. It happens about once a month. I had three people singing REM’s “Stand” in March.
No kidding.