Biking Moms of Redwood City

Yesterday was a good day for leaving the car at home. I walked to a moms' group meeting for this month's book discussion. Then I carpooled to the babysitting co-op playgroup.

Today, not so much. But I got a lot of errands done that would have been tough without the car.

I drove to a baby shower in Los Gatos yesterday, but I managed to carpool down there, which is as good as biking.

I fully intended to bike to my afternoon appointment in Menlo Park, but didn't get back to Redwood City in time. Argh.

Today dad and baby and I drove down to Menlo Park for the Sunset Celebration event, but by the time we got there, it was pouring.

The forecast says sunny-and-70s for the next 10 days, so there should be little impedement to leaving the car in the garage (which is good, since the engine light came on as I was driving home yesterday...)

I didn't actually bike anywhere yesterday, but I didn't use my car, either. I walked to "work" yesterday at Red Morton Park and stopped at the store on the way home. I love my neighborhood.

It sounds like Bike To Work Day was a big success. 172 energizer stations in the Bay Area?!? Awesome!

Today I rode to my volunteer gig, then to get lunch downtown and then the library. It's now pouring in Redwood City, so, if I end up going to the gym to climb today, I might drive...

(I'm also feeling sorry for my friend and usual climbing buddy, David, who is getting married today in what was to be an outdoor wedding.)

I'm starting to think that commuting via bike is a little like brushing your teeth. You know it's good for you, and sometimes you think about skipping it, but you always feel better after you do it.

but sometimes I have to pull the car out of the garage. This morning I rode to the gym towing Arthur (my longest ride with the trailer to date: 13 miles round trip). But this afternoon I had to drive to Mountain View for a work comittment (Dad didn't get home in time to babysit for me to ride to the train). I did see one bike commuter at this event...

There's a section of Roosevelt between Valota and Upton that is sadly devoid of curb cutouts. The rest of the city, in my experience, does ok with this. What gives?

I spent about half an hour this morning fussing with Samtrans bus and Caltrain schedules to figure out a way to get to a meeting in Milbrae this afternoon. It is certainly possible to do it, but would take 90 minutes of travel time in each direction, compared to less than 30 minutes via car. With Arthur's nap-eat schedule, that's just not possible. So I have to drive. On the bright side, it's just a one-time thing.

Part of the problem is the public transit schedule: if there were more than one train per hour that went from Milbrae to Redwood City on the return trip, it would save me a lot of time. But kudos to SamTrans for being more-or-less coordinated with the train schedule.

Too bad; it's a perfect day for a walk (or four).

Drove down to Henry Coe State Park with my buddy Adam for a little overnight backpack. Lots of wildflowers! What a great park.

A day like this is made for bike commuting. Some clouds, some sun, not too hot. This morning I took Arthur to the home day care where I volunteer, then continued to Trader Joe's, where I bought fun things like Clif Bars and trail mix for this weekend's backpacking trip. Since I was near a Boulanger, I had to go there for soup in a breadbowl. Mmm, carbs.

It's pretty easy to take the trailer off the bike and roll it around the store behind me, so I don't think I'll even need that stroller attachment.

I got lots of comments about how "neat" my little set-up is. I guess it helps to have an insanely cute baby in there.

I fully intended to ride to the gym last night, but I woke up from my nap at precisely the time I should have left to meet my climbing partner on time. Commuting via bike or public transit takes some planning and discipline. The car is just too easy.

Not much to report today. I turned an errand in Menlo Park just off Alameda into a 12- mile ride with hills up into Woodside (sans kid). I had been planning to take the bike and trailer to the library downtown (about 2 miles) for storytime, but Arthur decided to take a nap. The whole family took the car to dinner tonight (dad doesn't ride).

It appears as though there are a lot of people who don't know that any intersection creates a valid crosswalk. The first time I crossed four-lane Jefferson (no bike lane there, btw), no one yielded to the lady with the stroller and the cute little doggie. I was at Topaz, where there are no crosswalks painted. The second time, I crossed at Upton, where crosswalks are painted on both sides of the intersection, and the first vehicle stopped.

An easy day for leaving the car at home; all my destinations (Baby Boot Camp, play date, grocery store and neighborhood meeting later tonight) are three-quarters of a mile away or less.