It’s the shoulder season at the 45th parallel where commuting takes place at both sunrise and sunset only for a few weeks. Yesterday’s commute burst with intense color on both end of the day. Starting during the ride to work with a yellow tunnel of sunlight and flaming tree set against the aqua colored sky
Followed later on the way home by a commuter filled river parkway and gorgeous crossing as the sun set.
ActionCyclist
Many cycle trails follow power lines. Most days this summer have also shown the ultimate power source in the sky. All I have to do is look up for a jolt of power thinking to keep me moving. Especially on a Monday.
ActionCyclist
People ask me if I ever get tired of cycling on the same roads and trails over and over again. My answer has always been that I do not. I’m a firm believer in philosopher Heraclitus’ saying that “no man ever steps in the same river twice.” Although the roads and trails I ride upon may be the same bituminous material each time, it is never truly the same ride. I took these photos of the “same” scene yesterday at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m from the Ford Parkway/46th Street Bridge over the Mississippi. I might be on the same path repeatedly but it is always a new and interesting ride.
Every ride being “new” is one of the things I love most about cycling.
ActionCyclist
Have you ever wanted to commute to work but would be worried about the safety of your bike during the day? Do you wish you could feel safe leaving your bike at the museum, shop or park you’d like to visit? Well the metro has an excellent bike share program that can ease your mind while you are busy enjoying your day away from your ride. It is called Nice Ride MN. The green bikes you see everywhere around the cities are part of this bike sharing program.
You can use this service for as little as $6 for a 24 hour period. To get started register at one of the bike kiosks around town. Simply enter the passcode you will be given, pull out a bike and off you go. When you want to stop and enjoy yourself off the bike simply find a nearby kiosk and put your bike into the rack. Now you have no worries about bike thieves since it is no longer your bike.
Short trips are the goal of the program. Additional fees accrue if you keep one bike out of the rack for longer than 30 minutes. When you are ready to ride again simply re-enter your passcode and pull out another bike.
If you are local you can sign up for a pass for the entire cycling season for only $65. I have a friend who is a subscriber who uses the bikes to get to work in downtown Minneapolis from his condo in the uptown area. If it’s raining in the morning he hops on the bus. If it’s raining after work he can do the same. The NICE RIDE people take care of balancing our the supply of bikes so he always has a bike to get either to or from work. Now that is a nice care-free way to commute by cycle. You can find out more at their website niceridemn.org.
My ride is not quite the right “green”.
ActionCyclist
ActionCyclists 