 Today's picture: Commuting by bicycle on clear, crisp autumn evenings is nirvana compared to the pouring rain we experienced tonight. But foul weather didn't stop more than a dozen avid cyclists from converging on Third Avenue Café and filling the bike racks for Car-Free Happy Hour. The event is further proof to me that cycling is gaining traction locally – and not just with the bike-club crowd.
Tuesday's Car-Free Happy Hour was Louisville's second such event. It was organized mainly by word of mouth and social networking through blogs like this one. It was nothing like a club event.
Bike clubs typically have organized rides, where everyone shows up dressed in colorful spandex and they all take off together in pelotons. Many club riders arrive in their cars at the start of the ride, with bikes on top, or on the back. Most club rides are called off when a downpour moves in, like the one Tuesday night.
This Car-Free Happy Hour is something altogether different. People mainly dressed in regular clothing – probably whatever they wore to work – started showing up at about 5:30 p.m. and found a seat at a long table. A few of the riders were already vaguely acquainted, but fluorescent-colored name tags were a big help to most of us.
We introduced ourselves, ordered food and drinks, and the conversations started to take shape. The latest news: bike parking on the street – just like in Portland, Oregon! And did you know there's covered bike parking at the airport? Before you know it, eight or ten topics are flying around and they all revolve around riding on two wheels, walking, hopping a bus, finding ways to get around without relying so much on cars.
Exactly as advertised, it was one car-free happy hour that quickly became two. And then came that long, chilly ride home in the downpour.
PS: Remember, every lane is a bike lane. Share the road.
freewheelin
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Enjoy the ride home.
See you at pedalaround.blogspot.com
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bikecommuter