5
How to Survive Bicycle Lanes
Santa Fe is a bicycle paradise. With a ready array of trails, mountainous terrain and high desert expanse, cyclists inclined toward knobby tires and suspension are
***image1***
free to bomb through all the rugged riding they could wish for. The city itself is small and sunny enough to accommodate bicycle commuting, errand running and pleasure cruising. But while many major streets like Cerrillos Road are
equipped with bicycle lanes, traffic is not only fast and threatening but the lanes are often full of debris: hard-packed dirt, glass and an anthropologically profound cross-section of fast food packaging. On what should be smooth, safe, efficient asphalt, the compounded worries of all-terrain negotiation, hurled packets of secret sauce and drinking, talking, sleeping, swerving drivers create an unnerving and deadly environment. Attempting to fasten a push broom or snow shovel to the front of my bicycle didn't prove very effective for clearing debris, but local bicycle shops say if your route is rough, comfort and confidence can be increased with slightly wider tires, padded gloves and a suspension seat-post. Reflective gear such as jackets and vests as well as inexpensive, blinking l.e.d. lights make it easier for cars to see you. And throw half-eaten hamburgers at you. That's why you should wear a helmet.
Do it yourself:
Speak with the experts on how to stay focused and outfit yourself with a full bevy of safety gear by contacting Bike 'n' Sport (1829 Cerrillos Road, 820-0809), Rob and Charlies (1632 St. Michael's Dr., 471-9119) or Santa Fe Mountain Sports (607 Cerrillos Road, 988-3337). If you're feeling proactive about getting your street or bicycle lane cleaned by the appropriate authority, call the City's Streets Department: 955-3000.
