The Yin and Yang of my morning commute - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**omisan** · 07-28-2006, 12:38 PM

So for almost 2 months now, I've been taking on my 100-mile round trip commute by combination of bicycle and train. Overall, I love it. Sure, I'm now a slave to the train schedule, but I also get to chill out and relax on the way down, and I get the added benefit of exercise and (for now) sunshine for the biking legs.

Anyway, today I experienced one of the downsides of biking in the city.

I was riding down my usual route when this giant flatbed truck carrying a huge rebar column was making its way off the Bay Bridge off-ramp and turning on to the street I'm on. I just sat there watching thinking, "He's gonna clip the red light camera!" Sure enough, he did, and at the same time as me, a pedestrian also let out a big "haha!" Damn red light cameras... Anyway, I guess the impact with the green hunk of metal (see picture) didn't give him a clue to hit the brakes, so he took out a wooden power pole as well.. Which started bringing down the overhead Muni lines, which power our electric bus system. Once I heard those start to bend and snap, I discovered that you CAN go in reverse on a freewheel bicycle. It's called pushing back with all your might out of fear of electrocution. Anyway, this is the photo I submitted to the local ABC affiliate. Maybe it'll be on this afternoon's news.

On the plus side, here's the zen-like serenity of the morning train... The old hunk of junk I ride in the afternoon doesn't compare.

**Esterina** · 07-28-2006, 12:58 PM

Wow ! Glad your bike has reverse !

Seriously, good to have you with us...

**SuDz** · 07-28-2006, 02:17 PM

So that pole just jumped right in front of the truck huh? Crazy poles...

SuDZ

**travelchick75** · 07-28-2006, 04:59 PM

Haha wat a morning lol thats a story you can tell you grandchildren eh?

**space virgin** · 07-28-2006, 08:40 PM

Fuck!!

Sweet pic though.

Speaking of sweet pics, I'm curious about the one on your laptop in that other shot.

**omisan** · 07-30-2006, 11:55 PM

I was color correcting pics from the Dominican. Unfortunatley, I'm about 3 trips behind in my editing right now, so those will eventually trickle out. Hell, I just finally got those Oz/NZ photos up! hahah

**space virgin** · 07-31-2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@Jul 31 2006, 06:55 AM
Unfortunatley, I'm about 3 trips behind in my editing right now, so those will eventually trickle out. Hell, I just finally got those Oz/NZ photos up! hahah
[snapback]133021[/snapback]

Hmph. I have heard this before.

**Sijuki** · 07-31-2006, 06:50 AM

Good times... reminds me of that time I saw a fire truck broadside a Cavalier at about 80mph.

Wonderful pic.

DJ_VeeeNoM · 07-31-2006, 07:58 AM

well you are safe and sound so I guess it's all good! Oh dude next time travel on skates and see how much reverse you have! dude I almost chopped off my left thumb like 4 nights ago (It was fun) :greenguy:

rae_of_sunshine · 07-31-2006, 10:27 AM

In Ottawa a couple years ago a transport truck with some huge thing on the back of it drove into 3 (!!!) overpasses, taking huge hunks of cement out of them, before realizing he was hitting them. They had to shut down the overpasses to fix them he damaged them so badly!

Glad you´re ok!

**kingcrazylegs** · 07-31-2006, 10:49 PM

glad you were taking the pic and not someone taking one of you...