Nice Guys

Of course I am crazy about my husband, son, and stepsons, but I want to comment on some young men who I didn't know, but who impressed me this week.

Last Monday I drove my car to the Bike to Work Week breakfast (so sue me; it was raining buckets), and when I started to parallel park, a young guy in the space beside me honked at me. I wondered what I had done wrong, but he yelled to me that there were forty minutes left on his meter and to take his spot when he pulled out...nice!

Then a couple days later, when I was biking to my volunteer gig at Odyssey Youth Center, I pulled over to see if I could decipher a rattle coming from my bike. A young man on a motorcycle rode by, pulled a U-turn, and came back to see if I was okay. There was nothing he could do, but his concern was such a nice gesture.

Finally, this week Steve had some heavy yard work to be done, and he hired a twenty year old who was going door to door looking for work to save money to start school in the fall. He spent the weekend digging holes with Steve, and between the two of them have begun to transform our backyard. No handouts for this guy; he is doing all he can to make his dreams for the future come true.

When I hear people of my generation complaining about those in their twenties, I always tell them about my amazing kids and students, but the young men I met this week demonstrate what I believe: we have many great youth in this town. We must trust them, smile at them and be kind to them. Keeping them in Spokane is a gift to us all.

Spanked by Bob Apple

Yesterday morning, I sent a very polite note to our mayor and city council members asking that the bike lanes on SE Blvd be swept, as they were full of rocks and pine needles. A few hours later while I was riding home, I saw they were being cleaned, so I quickly wrote them again to thank them. I assumed the issue was done until late last night when I received the following from Bob Apple:


Try and talk to your bicycling friends to always be safety conscious and courteous because I'm receiving far to many complaints about arrogant and rude bicyclists who use hand language and literally cut in front of traffic. Knowing that about 2% of our residents ride bicycle casually or more and receiving so many complaints means a very few are creating a disservice to all riders. It is also a disservice to have public battles, regarding the placement of bike lanes on major arterials and truck routes wher they do not belong like 2nd and 3rd Avenues downtown and though that will not be happening, many on either side of the argument are still unhappy.


Betsy again--while cyclists' worst enemies might be other cyclists who don't follow rules and give us all a bad name, in my email I presented myself as a law-abiding adult and didn't warrant this response. I realize there are a few angry drivers out there, but am sorry to hear from an angry councilman. What do you think??

Hurray--Bike to Work Month

My neck is getting better and the sun is shining--both just in time for Bike To Work Month. I am passionate about BTW events; without them I would have never tried to commute by bike.

Today I was short on time, and rather than my usual, lovely, Centennial Trail route, I biked home up Napa, across Sprague, and straight up SE Blvd. I spend a good part of the ride with trucks in front, beside, and behind me, and ended up with road grit in my nose and dirt on my face. I rode past loose pit bulls, boarded up businesses, and an interesting looking business deal, and I loved every minute of it. Biking to work is challenging, fun, and healthy.

Bike to Work Month is happening now. Register at www.spokanebikes.org and send me a note if you want advice on how you can join me in the fun.