Thursday 31 March 2011
March 29
A lost opportunity to ride to Redcliffe today, but I don't regret it. The needs of family, especially a new born, seemed more important this morning.
March 28
OK, this is the last week of my Ride To Work month. I just wish I could have actually ridden today.
The plan was to drive to Caboolture, come home and ride to a meeting at Deception Bay. The reality was that I didn't stick to the plan. I allowed myself to get distracted, ignored my planned timetable, and found I had to rush via the car to make the meeting.
Worse still, the cafe where I arranged the meeting was closed. *Sigh*. It's another clear signal that a little planning and adherence to a plan goes a long way. Riding a bike to and from work must be one of the best training grounds for proper planning.
The plan was to drive to Caboolture, come home and ride to a meeting at Deception Bay. The reality was that I didn't stick to the plan. I allowed myself to get distracted, ignored my planned timetable, and found I had to rush via the car to make the meeting.
Worse still, the cafe where I arranged the meeting was closed. *Sigh*. It's another clear signal that a little planning and adherence to a plan goes a long way. Riding a bike to and from work must be one of the best training grounds for proper planning.
Monday 28 March 2011
March 25
I'm coming up to the end of the month soon. I can see the finish line, as it were, but don't think it is the end of my cycling. Ride past the chequered flag, and keep going.
Today I worked from home. It's a good way to work, providing you can minismise distractions and keep disciplined. I am getting used to the concept that meeting the needs of a new-born baby is not a distraction. It is a welcome part of my working and everyday life.
If you can create a mental and physical space where most domestic demands and chores are invisible, I've found working from home gives you a greater sense of control, less stress, and you end up smiling more that you realise.
If you can't ride to work, try working from home. Be bold and push your boss for it - you might be surprised. If you can get a lap top and aircard, you can do some work from home.
Today I worked from home. It's a good way to work, providing you can minismise distractions and keep disciplined. I am getting used to the concept that meeting the needs of a new-born baby is not a distraction. It is a welcome part of my working and everyday life.
If you can create a mental and physical space where most domestic demands and chores are invisible, I've found working from home gives you a greater sense of control, less stress, and you end up smiling more that you realise.
If you can't ride to work, try working from home. Be bold and push your boss for it - you might be surprised. If you can get a lap top and aircard, you can do some work from home.
March 24
One of the things I have noticed since I started riding seriously was how much of your time a car actually demands from you. Each is a child that must be nutured, and have your attention.
What my car wanted to day was a new tyre. Like my son Guy when he cries to be feed, it is a need that must be met immediately. A tyre with a nail through it is hard to ignore.
So I drove to my meeting today at Strathpine, then took the car in for his new tyre. "His" new tyre? When did I start personalising my car? Interestingly, my bike does not have a gender nor an identity. When we are confronted with the time and psychological investment we make in cars, it's a bit disturbing.
What my car wanted to day was a new tyre. Like my son Guy when he cries to be feed, it is a need that must be met immediately. A tyre with a nail through it is hard to ignore.
So I drove to my meeting today at Strathpine, then took the car in for his new tyre. "His" new tyre? When did I start personalising my car? Interestingly, my bike does not have a gender nor an identity. When we are confronted with the time and psychological investment we make in cars, it's a bit disturbing.
March 23
Here's a humbling thought. I need to work in with the needs of the people I serve, not have them work in the with my need to ride my bike this month.
That's why I accepted a meeting at 7.30am today, so as these constitutents could have their say to me, then get to work. That's why I ended up driving to Beachmere after that, and not riding. The rest of the day was spent in the Caboolture office and at the Burpengary public consultations.
As I wrote previously, riding to work is a process of negotiation, often with myself, compromising between my conscience and my wants. Between my desire to do the right thing and the desire for comfort and convenience.
That's why I accepted a meeting at 7.30am today, so as these constitutents could have their say to me, then get to work. That's why I ended up driving to Beachmere after that, and not riding. The rest of the day was spent in the Caboolture office and at the Burpengary public consultations.
As I wrote previously, riding to work is a process of negotiation, often with myself, compromising between my conscience and my wants. Between my desire to do the right thing and the desire for comfort and convenience.
Thursday 24 March 2011
March 22
A quiet day. Riding is not really on my mind today.
The Council meeting was at Strathpine, so I drove to the train station and caught the train today.
At the Council meeting I learnt that the injured young man from last night has died. I remember the anguish, the sheer heartbreak of his family who arrived at the scene last night, and cannot imagine what they must be suffering today.
The Council meeting was at Strathpine, so I drove to the train station and caught the train today.
At the Council meeting I learnt that the injured young man from last night has died. I remember the anguish, the sheer heartbreak of his family who arrived at the scene last night, and cannot imagine what they must be suffering today.
March 21
Reflections. I am riding to work during March because I think we need to change how we live our lives. I want others to think about some choices in their lives as well.
Monday was a day you think about your choices in life. I saw a man suffer an injury that will take months to heal. I saw another man unconscious on the road, his life ebbing away.
We all have choices. Not only about how we get from one point to another, but how we behave when doing it. We take risks, we race, we do things we later regret.
Riding back from Beachmere lake, there was a man sitting in the middle of the pathway, next to his bike and looking stunned. Do you need help, I asked, and he groaned yes.
He had fallen off his bike and damaged his knee. He could not stand, and I guessed he had snapped a ligament in his knee or his thigh.
I called an ambulance, dragged him to sit against a fence, and waited in the sun with him. A neighbour walked his bike home, and the ambulance arrived.
The second time I saw an ambulance on Monday was when one arrived at the scene of a terrible accident on Deception Bay Road. A young man lay on the road, after having fallen out of a car, suffering what clearly were dire injuries.
Brian Hayes, Arthur Hayes and I, all from Deception Bay Lions Club, were amongst first on the scene. We directed traffic, called 000, and tried to comfort the family when they arrived. Brian Hayes and a passing doctor took turns to perform CPR.
When I got home, I just walked into my son's room and stared at him for as long as I could stand.
I know what I am doing with this bike riding thing is right. Somethimes we just have to change how we live our lives, whether it is for our planet's future, or simply for the future of our loved ones.
Reflections. We need to make sure we travel safely, get to where we are going in a way that doesn't put ourselves at risk, nor put others in danger.
We need to make the right choices, the big ones and the little ones, everyday, in our lives.
Monday was a day you think about your choices in life. I saw a man suffer an injury that will take months to heal. I saw another man unconscious on the road, his life ebbing away.
We all have choices. Not only about how we get from one point to another, but how we behave when doing it. We take risks, we race, we do things we later regret.
Riding back from Beachmere lake, there was a man sitting in the middle of the pathway, next to his bike and looking stunned. Do you need help, I asked, and he groaned yes.
He had fallen off his bike and damaged his knee. He could not stand, and I guessed he had snapped a ligament in his knee or his thigh.
I called an ambulance, dragged him to sit against a fence, and waited in the sun with him. A neighbour walked his bike home, and the ambulance arrived.
The second time I saw an ambulance on Monday was when one arrived at the scene of a terrible accident on Deception Bay Road. A young man lay on the road, after having fallen out of a car, suffering what clearly were dire injuries.
Brian Hayes, Arthur Hayes and I, all from Deception Bay Lions Club, were amongst first on the scene. We directed traffic, called 000, and tried to comfort the family when they arrived. Brian Hayes and a passing doctor took turns to perform CPR.
When I got home, I just walked into my son's room and stared at him for as long as I could stand.
I know what I am doing with this bike riding thing is right. Somethimes we just have to change how we live our lives, whether it is for our planet's future, or simply for the future of our loved ones.
Reflections. We need to make sure we travel safely, get to where we are going in a way that doesn't put ourselves at risk, nor put others in danger.
We need to make the right choices, the big ones and the little ones, everyday, in our lives.
Sunday 20 March 2011
March 19
How do you be two places at once? Impossible, you say, and you are right. I started out this morning at the season opening march past for the Caboolture Netball Association, which is a wonderful experience for anyone who loves to see hundreds of young people in a good, healthy local sports scene.
But I had to go off early to the Community Open Day for the brand-new Beachmere Community Kindergarten, which was literally going on at the same time. It has to be best designed kindy I have ever seen, initiated by a single-minded community. Both great events, and to go to both, I needed to use the Batmobile.
And where was the bike in all this? In the garage, looking forlorn and rejected. Too bad, bikey, you'll be whingeing at the end of the coming week. I hope.
But I had to go off early to the Community Open Day for the brand-new Beachmere Community Kindergarten, which was literally going on at the same time. It has to be best designed kindy I have ever seen, initiated by a single-minded community. Both great events, and to go to both, I needed to use the Batmobile.
And where was the bike in all this? In the garage, looking forlorn and rejected. Too bad, bikey, you'll be whingeing at the end of the coming week. I hope.
March 18
Today became a non-riding day today, probably one of my few work days without any cycling.
It was "suit time" in the morning, going to the Better Business Breakfast at Murrumba Downs Tavern. And in the afternoon, it was "cloth cap" time for the golf fundraiser for the Coastal Suns basketball team. A worthy cause.
Yes, I could have riden to Caboolture Golf Club. In hindsight, it was a wise decision not to do so: all the golf carts were booked out, so local MP Mark Ryan and I walked the 18 holes. I feared the chaffing, but at the end it was my dodgy knees that were making me walk like a duck - a lame duck. To ride back home after that may have been a wee bit too much to ask this 44-year-old frame.
It was "suit time" in the morning, going to the Better Business Breakfast at Murrumba Downs Tavern. And in the afternoon, it was "cloth cap" time for the golf fundraiser for the Coastal Suns basketball team. A worthy cause.
Yes, I could have riden to Caboolture Golf Club. In hindsight, it was a wise decision not to do so: all the golf carts were booked out, so local MP Mark Ryan and I walked the 18 holes. I feared the chaffing, but at the end it was my dodgy knees that were making me walk like a duck - a lame duck. To ride back home after that may have been a wee bit too much to ask this 44-year-old frame.
Thursday 17 March 2011
March 17
Bike ride today: up to Caboolture and back. Car drive today: to two meetings at Caboolture and Deception Bay. Once again, I can do what I need to do, if I balance riding and driving. And if my legs hold out.
Political part: we need more on road bike lanes, that is clear. Not just wider path ways, or wider road verges. Dedicated bike lanes around our major urban centres encourage you to get out and about on your bike, as they are safer and more convenient.
Political part: we need more on road bike lanes, that is clear. Not just wider path ways, or wider road verges. Dedicated bike lanes around our major urban centres encourage you to get out and about on your bike, as they are safer and more convenient.
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