I Love Riding in the City
NAME: John
LOCATION: Washington, DC
OCCUPATION: Analyst
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Washington DC, which is not sure if it wants to be a wonderful biking city. There are days when you come to an intersection and find 20 cyclists at every cross street, courteous drivers, and ample bike parking; there are other days when the city feels very unfriendly to cyclists. It all depends on where you are and where you are going. Fortunately, the city government has a very forward thinking DOT, and they are rolling out new bike lanes and an expanded bike sharing system at a breakneck pace.
What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Not including DC? Probably Munich, Germany. I found it to be incredibly intuitive and easy. German engineering is really a marvel to behold at all levels. I was a little nervous that I would not be able to adhere to the manner in which Germans bike in Munich, but the engineering is so simple and straightforward that it was second nature to me in manner of minutes. No wonder people so quickly turn to bikes!
I really do enjoy riding in DC, though. We have a great network of trails and bike lanes, and I appreciate that I can be a vehicular cyclist when I want to be and a slower cyclist when I don’t.
Why do you love riding in the city?
It is so much faster than driving! I almost feel guilty blowing past traffic, but I can make a cross town trip in 20 minutes vs. the 45 minutes to an hour it takes when driving. DC has a great subway system that accommodates bikes, but it can get so jam packed that it often feels claustrophobic. I love the freedom and convenience of biking in a city, especially when there are enough cyclists out so you don’t feel like a pariah.
Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city…
The attached photo was taken by a friend when I was en route to a wedding downtown. I really like that cities enable you to quickly get where you need to go and arrive ready for whatever awaits you, all while improving your health and conserving energy.
