Loving Long Beach

I have dropped more deeply in love with Long Beach over this past weekend. Long Beach opened the separated bike lanes on Saturday with more than 100 people present. Finally those selfish gas guzzlers are learning again what they should have learned in kindergarten -- how to share!

I have been reading the comments in the local papers about what people think of the new "sharrows" and most of the comments have been made by those dinosaurs that will soon be paying $6 a gallon for their right to pollute the world. That doesn't seem so smart to me.

Long Beach has provided us a way to be safer while not running people down on the sidewalks. Long Beach has given us a speedier way to get across town without having to compete for road space with a couple of tons of metal going at speeds of 40 mph. Long Beach has given us space to set aside our cars and ride our Trikkes/bikes to the store or other local errands. Long Beach has given us a chance to do something that will better our environment.

And so it is up to us now, because these separated bike lanes are a trial effort. We have 1-year to prove to the city that we love what they have done for us. And the way to do that is to lock up the car and take a ride on a Trikke or bike or whatever form of human powered vehicle you choose.

One Trickk Pon-e

My new Pon-e, Elekktra, is amazing. I am rather a slow trikker but I can keep up with the crowd on the Pon-e. I don't have to worry about distances when I am on Elekktra, I can go about 20 miles on a single charge. It really satisfies my search for fun, safety and what I call speed.

I feel pretty safe on Elekktra, probably since I am so used to the Trikke. I have always been afraid of motorcycles; riding, steering and changing gears, it's all too much.

I really am a timid creature when it comes to taking chances that might result in asphalt burn or broken bones. Any kind of discomfort makes me nervous, really. And yet because of the stance on the foot pads with the Pon-e, I don't think of personal injury so much.

The Pon-e is such a blast to run errands with. A trip to the market turns into a fun ride around town. This is the closest I've been to owning a car in 17 years. The convenience factor is so important. And when it's all done, I take Elekktra into the elevator, up to my apartment and straight to my bedroom where I have made a space for her.

I love not having to depend upon exact change for the bus. I love not being a slow moving target. I love that I don't have to purchase gas, insurance or maintain a big savings account for car repairs. I love that my world got a little smaller with the Pon-e.

Plus, it's shiny and new. Who doesn't like shiny and new?