Yesterday, due to a date to see a well-known notorious band from the LA punk scene, reformed and with an actor in place of the lead singer, I got the bus to work. This led to many minor annoyances, all of which I reckon would have been avoided if I’d ridden. They all add up to make me appreciate more and more the benefits of commuting on a bike.
Firstly, it rained. Now, you might think that riding a bike would make this worse, but in this case you’d be wrong. Setting aside the debate about whether you get wetter on a 20 minute ride or walking to and waiting at a bus stop for 10 minutes, there was a far more obvious issue on the morning in question. I have to leave home half an hour earlier to get the bus, while the rain was heaviest. 30 minutes later the rain had totally stopped and I would have stayed mostly dry if I’d been on the bike.
Secondly, waiting at the bus stop, the bus that I wanted sailed past without bothering to stop for the group of people there. That never happens on a bike. It always waits patiently for you to be ready to leave and then (generally) stays with you the whole way there.
Thirdly I listened to music on the way to work as I didn’t have to use all my senses to be aware of anything that might threaten to knock me off two wheels, and this meant utter confusion. I am convinced that my computer and phone, and anything else I might try and play music on, go through moods where they decide what music they like. With them set to “random” they then proceed to pick the same artist over and over again. This morning my phone was definitely in the mood for Scottish indie band Idlewild. While I do like the work of Mr Womble and friends, if I’d wanted to listen to them exclusively I might have chosen one of their albums, rather than hoping for a random selection of music. I feel like the mysterious personalities of electronic equipment beat me. I suppose I can’t really blame that on the bus.
Today I was back on the bike – with usual order restored.
A
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