I went for a short ride a while back on my Catrike, and encountered a few slight difficulties, but got to ride a brand new, freshly poured sidewalk. It was wider than the original walkway, and I had to cross busy roads several times.
I walk with a cane but riding the trike feels like flying, woot.
The pedestrian cross button was too far for me to reach when I got to the next corner, so I finagled the etrike around; it’s handy that being so close to the ground, I have a “reverse gear,” but it’s harder to reach higher things without fully unclipping.
I headed toward the nearby community center, but struggled a bit with overgrowth encroaching on an older, narrower sidewalk. Got there, went around the parking lot, then REALLY struggled to get up an unnecessary steep ramp to go back the way I came. Berms and little hillocks may be aesthetically pleasing out in flatlander suburbia, but negotiating curves and surprising upticks can be challenging for anyone not able-bodied.
As I left the center, spotted their Mystery Machine
As I noodled around in a part of the neighborhood I’d never explored, I was feeling encouraged. Not stuck on the couch, it was a nice day, etc. Then I decided to head homeward, via a different crossing of the busy road. It was yet another older sidewalk, with a steep downward slope on my right that led to yet another unnecessary upward slop. And then I saw my next challenge.
On newer sidewalks, they generally curve around obstructions, but there wasnt room here. Could I get past without going on a shot and violent excursion into the ditch on the right, or busy traffic on the left?
Why yes, just barely. Thanks, IDOT!! It should be spelled with 2 “I’s”.
Later in the ride, after negotiating that bugggerdy sidewalk and cutting through the park via a short bike path, I encountered a nice neighbor guy and his extremely nice and good doggo. He had seen me struggling to get lined up to cross in order to reach the park, and was amazed that I had gotten to the park before him (he parked nearby).
”well,” I said modestly, “I did hit 15mph after crossing, but I have e-assist.”
The sky was looking a little ominous but no rain once I got home. All in all, a pretty good little toodle, but I need a longer ride soon. Family in town next week and there’ll be a lot going on.
