We struggled to keep our four year streak of riding at least once during a work week this past month. We’re also struggling to keep our composure as an advocate.
Riding has been tough and slow. What usually takes 20-30 minutes has been 30-45 and even closer to an hour in some cases. The narrow roads push me into the regular travel lane which increases driver resentment as well as mine of those who don’t recognize a bicycle as a vehicle with the same rights as an automobile. We’ve handed out a lot of the Massbike same road pieces. They replaced the anti-idling pieces which were suspended for the cold even though it’s more crucial than ever when it is cold outside.
As February remains fairly storm free the roads are widening, the days are lengthening and we’re enjoying riding again. If only the crap that comes up off the road would be done with. Boy is my bike yukky at times.
What is making things hard for this advocate is a hard won victory appears to have gone by the board thanks to one City Officials adhoc decision. The Glen Road segment of Franklin Park had gotten the Mayor’s promise to plow in June, 2009. It was plowed 4 times in 2009-10. The first storm of 201-011 was plowed. Since then tough toenails! The esteemed Assistant Commissioner of Parks sent out several NASTY replies to advocates telling us we are lucky anything gets plowed.
Well forgive me if organizing over 100 signatures, showing up at Mayoral public events with up to a half dozen different people THREE times, getting all the park advocay groups and showing over and over and over again how used the section is isn’t enough to find a permanant solution. Thanks to everyone who has tried to sway our friend.
Take a deep breath and think of how nice it will be riding home this evening in the lenghthening dusk through the plowed section of Franklin Park. One last thing on the plowing, ironically the adhoc configuration would be my personal preference. I guess I should just enjoy that and shut up eh?
