I Love Riding in the City
NAME: Lucia Aguirre
LOCATION: Pittsburgh, PA
OCCUPATION: Architect/Artist
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in the glorious city of Pittsburgh, where you’ll develop muscles from riding its many hills, regardless of whether you like them or not! I think that riding in Pittsburgh is like its four-season weather—different and always exciting. While drivers and the city as a whole are still trying to adapt to the cycling community that has been emerging so strongly, I still feel relatively safe riding around.
What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?
So far most of my cycling has only been done in Pittsburgh, but I’m really looking forward to taking a bike ride in Mexico City (where I’m originally from). Ever since they started their Sunday rides where they close the major streets of the capital for bike riding, I’ve heard wonderful stories about how different the experience can be. So I would love to ride through its age-old streets with my Dad and enjoy “El D.F.” soon.
Why do you love riding in the city?
Being an architect and a city-girl, I love the urban environment, and I love experiencing it and seeing people and streets and buildings and the natural environment all come together while riding my bike. I also love the people who ride their bikes in my city. I love how riding my bike through Pittsburgh’s all-season weather I get to experience the seasons and how they change, from rainy and soggy days, to hot and humid, to “snowmagedons,” to just perfect placid blue-sky days. I also love the fact that through biking, I think I’m in the best shape of my life.
Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city…
Something that I’ve noticed is that many times people smile at me when I’m on my bike, even if I don’t know them. I think this is because either I’m smiling too much from enjoying the ride, or I look ridiculous in my biking gear. Either way, I’ll take it.
