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Summer in the city – a bike ride

July 16th, 2006 by Bill

I got on my bike yesterday afternoon and went for a ride. I had forgotten just how far you can bike on the paths around Edmonton, through the River Valley. You just start pedaling and … well, there seems no end of it.

I lost track of the things I saw people doing: jogging, cycling, roller blading, playing soccer, flying kites, Frisbee, skateboards, walking, sleeping, tanning … and uh, yeah. There were also those two university guys I ran into as I stepped off the path to take some pictures. They appeared surprised – and no wonder. Their pants were down around their ankles. (There are some things you just prefer not to see.) Anyway …

I was taking pictures as I rode and discovered when I got home I had taken 109! Hadn’t planned to take that many but I kept seeing things I found interesting.

Most interesting, to me, is that all of this is in the middle of the city. In the River Valley, it’s hard to remember that you’re in an urban landscape.

Unfortunately, in Edmonton, the further away you are from the river the more you get into a nightmare of malls and a frenzy of cars. Albertans are crazy for their cars. You get the sense we’re the kind of people who would jump into an SUV to drive to the bathroom. And as I’ve posted elsewhere, people who drive are idiots. (Yes, that’s my bike in that picture.)

I would love to see a city that literally (and I’m serious!) made it illegal to take a car into the downtown area. (Yes, I know – people would go into apoplectic frenzies at such a notion.)

But imagine a downtown with only pedestrians, cyclists, taxis and buses. (Mind you, a lot of bike riders are idiots too.)

By the way … here’s my bike ride on Flickr. (Don’t worry - I didn’t post 109 images - just a handful.

Let me also add:

I tried riding my bike again today and realized I may have been more enthusiastic about my bike riding on Saturday than I’d imagined. My ass felt like it had been kicked black and blue by a steel-toed shoe. Must get a new seat for my bike.

6 Responses to “Summer in the city – a bike ride”

  1. on 17 Jul 2006 at 8:40 am1 Debby

    I think the whole idea of being able to go downtown without any cars around is one of the greatest ideas I have ever heard and you should patent it forthwith!!!!

  2. on 17 Jul 2006 at 11:23 am2 Sizzle

    a new seat sounds like a grand idea. your ass will thank you. :)

  3. on 17 Jul 2006 at 12:22 pm3 Neil

    Didn’t realize that the North Saskatchewan River runs right through town. What a great place to ride.

  4. on 17 Jul 2006 at 3:08 pm4 Flounder

    Sounds like a brokeback bike path.

  5. on 18 Jul 2006 at 11:36 am5 Blonde Vigilante

    The oceanfront where I live is perfect for bike riding…virtually made for it…you can ride your bike in the trolley lanes etc and throughout Virginia Beach there are bike paths, but it’s just too damned big to ride only your bike around. The worst part is the public transportation is dispicable. It’s sad really.

    I can relate to the sore ass. I get it everytime I ride my bike.

  6. on 18 Jul 2006 at 12:49 pm6 Bill

    Ooh … an oceanfront bike ride. That would be heaven.

    Yes, a new seat is on my list of improvements.

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