I dropped my car off at the mechanic last week and decided I would bike home. I seldom ride my bike for non-leisure purposes, though I took a very leisure pace.

The route was a little dicey here and there, and on some of the roads I found myself praying that the cars coming from behind weren’t going to bash into me. Thinking about the bicyclists who go on very long bike rides over country roads and highways, I have an immense amount of respect for those folks. Maybe it’s bravery or desensitization, or a slurry of both.

Either way, I’m glad that my ~5 mile route consisted of only a few turns and about a quarter mile of knuckle clenching, hoping I don’t go splat, kind of riding.

The rest of was very smooth. The city has invested in more “bike friendly” designs, which they have always done a decent job of, but there has been some significant expansion over the last several years.

I rode through some neighborhoods in was told are no good, and was greeted with friendly people and faces, and this left me with the inclination my initial tour guide of the area (when I moved here) was maybe a little prejudice. None of us are without our own biases and prejudices, often unknowingly inherited, so I hold no resentment for this.

On the contrary, visiting and exploring and interacting with the inhabitants in neighborhoods of my city that I previously have not, has become a bit of a pass time for me.

Who knows, maybe I will go on another bike ride to pick my car up when the mechanic is done with it. If I do, I think I’ll introduce my bike to you all, as he has quite a bit of character.