Life Is a Highway

Ocean parkway or the Prospect expressway is both beautiful and deadly
Just a look on the website Gothamist on their Newsmap section tells you that
at least once every couple days there is something to report about the strip.

It is lined with beautiful trees and a pretty sidewalk marked with benches. Some of the most beautiful houses are situated right in front of the chaos. If it wasn't for a matter of time I wouldn't even consider riding a bike near it, on it, over it. There are only so many hours of daylight in the winter time though and I tend to crave at least a few hours even if I am mostly a night owl. So in hopes to make my dog walking excursions go just a smidgen faster I decided to try my hand at riding a bike through the city streets.

A borrowed bike mind you, one that is rusty, rickety and whose brakes are less then reliable.

I picked up this dog walking routine for a friend of a friend. She is going to Israel for the month and wanted someone to take over the dog walking duties. Having been recently laid off from waitressing at Rockefeller Center for the Christmas season I thought I few extra bucks is not going to hurt while I am in limbo before my student loans come through.

I hate even walking close to Ocean Parkway. If you stand too close to the curb suddenly images of a car flying out of control and careening into the sidewalk with you dead beneath it come to mind.

The trip wasn't too terrible, I didn't die. A few frights but like the little engine that could I peddled the rusty red bike as hard as I could just focusing on where I needed to go.

It beat driving and trying to find parking in which case tag on another hour of parking space woes.

I made it back to the apartment in two hours. That's an hour of dog walking time and an hour of travel time. I suppose that's not too terrible for the minimal amount I am taking home.

I made it all the way back home with no mishaps and not one bump. Until I reached the Yeshiva on the corner. I was pulling up to a light with the other cars when suddenly a car door flies open and my bike handle bars smash into the door. "Jesus!" I scream loudly as the boy says "I'm sorry."" I just rode off in a huff. Later kicking myself that I just screamed "Jesus!" on the corner of my block where most likely these are my neighbors... that I just screamed "Jesus" at.

So much for trying to blend in quietly in a neighborhood where a non-Jewish girl sticks out like a sore thumb anyway.


I have to work on my riding technique. I should probably buy a helmet.