Spontaneous Compliments on Lights and Riding on the Left.

Today I was in San Francisco with my bicycle, needing to drop off a car
at the repair shop I use and needing to pick up a package for someone in
downtown SF. I put one of the folding bicycles in the trunk and after I
dropped off the vehicle I rode from the garage over to BART (which
recently lifted the time-restrictions on bicycles) then took BART
downtown. In the elevator of the office building someone was admiring my
light and asking questions about both the light and the mount (since
this happens on a regular basis, I'm going to prepare some half-page
sheets to give out, or just some cards with a URL).

After I picked up the package I headed down to CalTrain, America's
slowest train, to return to Silicon Valley. Very glad to have the front
flasher in the crazy San Francisco traffic. I haven't ridden this
particular street down to the Caltrain station before (4th Street) and
was surprised to see other cyclists all riding on the left (it's a one
way street) rather than the right. I followed their example and soon
understood why they did this.

Saw the ridiculous Bay Area Bike Share bicycles safely in the racks.
They deliberately designed a flawed system in order to protect tourist
bicycle rental companies. You can only have a bicycle out of the rack
for 30 minutes before being charged overtime, even if you have a yearly
unlimited membership.

On Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:08:27 -0800, SMS
wrote:

Today I was in San Francisco with my bicycle, needing to drop off a car
at the repair shop I use and needing to pick up a package for someone in
downtown SF. I put one of the folding bicycles in the trunk and after I
dropped off the vehicle I rode from the garage over to BART (which
recently lifted the time-restrictions on bicycles) then took BART
downtown. In the elevator of the office building someone was admiring my
light and asking questions about both the light and the mount (since
this happens on a regular basis, I'm going to prepare some half-page
sheets to give out, or just some cards with a URL).

After I picked up the package I headed down to CalTrain, America's
slowest train, to return to Silicon Valley. Very glad to have the front
flasher in the crazy San Francisco traffic. I haven't ridden this
particular street down to the Caltrain station before (4th Street) and
was surprised to see other cyclists all riding on the left (it's a one
way street) rather than the right. I followed their example and soon
understood why they did this.

Saw the ridiculous Bay Area Bike Share bicycles safely in the racks.
They deliberately designed a flawed system in order to protect tourist
bicycle rental companies. You can only have a bicycle out of the rack
for 30 minutes before being charged overtime, even if you have a yearly
unlimited membership.


What in the world do "Share Bicycles' have to do with riding on the
wrong side of the road?

--
Cheers,

John B.

did you get sucked off in the elevator ?

On Friday, December 13, 2013 2:49:17 AM UTC-8, John B. wrote:
On Thu, 12 Dec 2013 19:08:27 -0800, SMS

wrote:



Today I was in San Francisco with my bicycle, needing to drop off a car

at the repair shop I use and needing to pick up a package for someone in

downtown SF. I put one of the folding bicycles in the trunk and after I

dropped off the vehicle I rode from the garage over to BART (which

recently lifted the time-restrictions on bicycles) then took BART

downtown. In the elevator of the office building someone was admiring my

light and asking questions about both the light and the mount (since

this happens on a regular basis, I'm going to prepare some half-page

sheets to give out, or just some cards with a URL).



After I picked up the package I headed down to CalTrain, America's

slowest train, to return to Silicon Valley. Very glad to have the front

flasher in the crazy San Francisco traffic. I haven't ridden this

particular street down to the Caltrain station before (4th Street) and

was surprised to see other cyclists all riding on the left (it's a one

way street) rather than the right. I followed their example and soon

understood why they did this.



Saw the ridiculous Bay Area Bike Share bicycles safely in the racks.

They deliberately designed a flawed system in order to protect tourist

bicycle rental companies. You can only have a bicycle out of the rack

for 30 minutes before being charged overtime, even if you have a yearly

unlimited membership.





What in the world do "Share Bicycles' have to do with riding on the

wrong side of the road?

I think something got left out. Anyway, it was a one-way street, so he could permissibly ride on the right or left side of the lane.

The confusing part of the story is why he would drive from Cupertino to San Francisco to get a car fixed. BTW, I once rode down the El Camino from SF to Cupertino and ultimately to Los Gatos. The light was waning, and I didn't have time to cut out to the coast (or for the climb back over at SC). In one 'hood that will remain unnamed, people were fighting on the street, and car drivers were passing me with an unmistakable look of "why the f*** are you riding through here." Not terribly picturesque.

-- Jay Beattie.

On 12/13/2013 7:52 AM, Jay Beattie wrote:

The confusing part of the story is why he would drive from Cupertino to San Francisco to get a car fixed.

My brother-in-law has a repair shop in San Francisco. The work is pretty
major and he is proficient in Toyota repair (Toyota has some arrangement
with the auto-technology program at the local CC and he takes all the
classes there). http://www.skylinecollege.edu/automotive/. I would
probably junk the car rather than try to get it fixed anywhere else.

BTW, I once rode down the El Camino from SF to Cupertino and
ultimately to Los Gatos. The light was waning, and I didn't have time to
cut out to the coast (or for the climb back over at SC). In one 'hood
that will remain unnamed, people were fighting on the street, and car
drivers were passing me with an unmistakable look of "why the f*** are
you riding through here." Not terribly picturesque.

El Camino Real does not go to either Cupertino or Los Gatos.

On Friday, December 13, 2013 8:25:18 AM UTC-8, SMS wrote:
On 12/13/2013 7:52 AM, Jay Beattie wrote:



The confusing part of the story is why he would drive from Cupertino to San Francisco to get a car fixed.



My brother-in-law has a repair shop in San Francisco. The work is pretty

major and he is proficient in Toyota repair (Toyota has some arrangement

with the auto-technology program at the local CC and he takes all the

classes there). http://www.skylinecollege.edu/automotive/. I would

probably junk the car rather than try to get it fixed anywhere else.



BTW, I once rode down the El Camino from SF to Cupertino and

ultimately to Los Gatos. The light was waning, and I didn't have time to

cut out to the coast (or for the climb back over at SC). In one 'hood

that will remain unnamed, people were fighting on the street, and car

drivers were passing me with an unmistakable look of "why the f*** are

you riding through here." Not terribly picturesque.



El Camino Real does not go to either Cupertino or Los Gatos.

You're right, I had to make one turn from the El Camino on to Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Saratoga-Los Gatos. Went right through Cupertino what, a 1,000 yards after the turn? (don't know where the Sunnyvale/Cupertino border is). In Los Gatos, I also turned on North Santa Cruz, down West Main and ultimately up Alpine to get to my dad's old house. Also, I was probably on south Mission in SF before it turned in to the El Camino when I went through that ratty neighborhood. Subject to the foregoing corrections, I rode down the El Camino to Cupertino and ultimately Los Gatos.

-- Jay Beattie.

On 12/13/2013 9:00 AM, Jay Beattie wrote:

snip

El Camino Real does not go to either Cupertino or Los Gatos.

You're right, I had to make one turn from the El Camino on to Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Saratoga-Los Gatos. Went right through Cupertino what, a 1,000 yards after the turn? (don't know where the Sunnyvale/Cupertino border is). In Los Gatos, I also turned on North Santa Cruz, down West Main and ultimately up Alpine to get to my dad's old house. Also, I was probably on south Mission in SF before it turned in to the El Camino when I went through that ratty neighborhood. Subject to the foregoing corrections, I rode down the El Camino to Cupertino and ultimately Los Gatos.

The auto repair shop I go to is not far from that sketchy neighborhood.

But neighborhoods are being gentrified as San Francisco becomes a
bedroom community for Silicon Valley techies. It's creating a lot of
issues in terms of housing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yc6z2oSPdQ
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/11/tech/innovation/google-bus-protest/

On 12/13/2013 9:00 AM, Jay Beattie wrote:

snip

You're right, I had to make one turn from the El Camino on to Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Saratoga-Los Gatos. Went right through Cupertino what, a 1,000 yards after the turn? (don't know where the Sunnyvale/Cupertino border is).

Homestead is the dividing line between Sunnyvale and Cupertino.
Sunnyvale Saratoga Road turns into De Anza Boulevard which turns into
Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road which turns into Highway 9 to Los Gatos. To
further confuse people, De Anza Boulevard and Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road
used to be Highway 9 and some old-timers still call it that.

Homestead is south of Miami, 9 is in NJ/NY....super along the Hudson below West Point...outstanding bridge.

Yes, OUAT, riding your bicycle was alien, an abbbbbertion in and of itself, rarely interfered

rarely.....we should search the Times.


so the elevator ?

I said, well I can count your freckles....

so much for humor...

many connect with 9

http://goo.gl/GjEBj9