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Last Tuesday was the perfect commute and I still can't believe it
I've been biking to my job at the library in downtown Portland for about 4 years now. Last Tuesday was the first time everything lined up perfectly. No headwind, no rain, and I hit every green light on the 6 mile route for the first time ever. Got to work in 22 minutes flat which is 8 minutes under my usual time. Even the driver who almost hit me at 28th and Burnside gave me a real apology instead of a honk. Has anyone else had a perfect day like that or am I just lucky?
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river3513d ago
Gotta say, I don't really buy the "perfect commute" thing. Biking in Portland traffic is a nightmare no matter how good the lights line up. That driver who apologized? Probably just felt bad because they almost killed you, which happens all the time around 28th and Burnside. A 22 minute ride is impressive, but calling it perfect when you still almost got hit feels like ignoring the real problem. The city needs better bike lanes, not just a lucky streak with green lights. You should be pushing for safer streets instead of celebrating a close call.
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white.grant2d ago
I get where you're coming from, river, but I see it a bit differently honestly. That ride on the 28th and Burnside stretch is still rough, no doubt, but nailing 22 minutes with all green lights is a pretty big deal for anyone who bikes that route regularly. The driver apologizing felt genuine to me because most people around there just speed off without a second thought, so that moment actually gave me a little hope that drivers are paying more attention. Sure, Portland needs better bike infrastructure badly, I'm not arguing against that at all. But if we only focus on the bad stuff and ignore when a commute actually goes smooth, it just makes biking feel like a chore instead of something fun. Celebrating a close call isn't the point, it's more about showing that even a small stretch of good timing can make the whole trip feel worth it, lol.
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