Seeing a City.

Over the last couple weeks I've actually spent more time driving than riding....which is kind of rare for me.  I had forgotten just how effortless it is to get around when you just have push one pedal instead of two.  As I cruised both Michigan and Nevada roads I was struck how little of an area you actually experience in a car.  It's just the nature of driving to attempt to avoid the congested areas I suppose...but you miss some of the most interesting areas when you do.  So this week back on the bike it's been fun just to observe the city again.  So give it some thought, you might want to try it!

Case in point...Virginia St. bridge removal.

I almost stopped for a cup of coffee this morning.....

Same ride as always on the commute this morning.  And yet, I definitely saw something new today!

A Different Bike Commute.

Sorry the posts have been a bit lite this week.  There has been a lot of activity with NAB meetings (Neighborhood association board) with bicycle based themes and it's been tying up my spare time.  Today its all in the past and I decided it was time for something new, so I picked a commute route I rarely ride.

It started with riding the wrong way (as in away from my destination) so I could take a detour through Rancho San Rafael Park.  In all honesty, it's only about a 1/4 mile detour from my house.  How do you say no to a road with no traffic, grape vines, and gorgeous sunshine!

From here I empty out on to Sierra St.  Recently the recipient of multiple blinky cross walks for pedestrians and awaiting a October remake as a complete street (road diet).  And boy oh boy does it need it.  This is not a safe street to ride (which is amazing since it's serves as a primary road for UNR). 

Yes, this one is from yesterday when I did a little recon drive.

The next few are via my ride this morning.

As you can see any extra room is pretty much used for parking.  The current lane dimensions don't allow for cars to move over very far to pass a cyclist.  And lord knows they aren't going to hit the brakes to wait and pass safely!

After a nice 38 mph coast down the hill I hung a left onto 2nd street / East Glendale and took it all the way out to Rock Blvd.  There's no designated bicycle facilities on this route but it's fairly wide and not too uncomfortable to ride.  The worst part is all the traffic lights.  I've ridden and driven this section before and there is no way to time the lights on a bike or in a car.  Fortunately, this does keep the traffic count light!  Here's a few pics along the way.

Comm Row climbing wall....totally cool!

In one of the little hotel type parking lots someone has a pretty cool urban garden.

The cursed lights that make this a no optimal commute route!

It really does make it more interesting to change up your route.  So if you have a little extra time try exploring a new path and see where it takes you!

Things you didn't know (or notice).

Just the casual ride in this morning and then at the corner of Rock and Mill...Deer!  One of them actually just stepped through the brush line so you can't see her.  Pretty cool for downtown industrial Reno.  I'm assuming they use the river corridor to get here from the Hidden Valley side but who knows.

Just out of curiosity I asked each of my coworkers (who all drive in on Mill) if they notice them.  Not a single one did.  Yet another reason to ride!