131. I Love You, Helmet

I'm the last one on the bus as it nears its final stop. Eager for the last leg of my commute, I get my gear together and head for the front to make for a quick exit.  At the same time some idiot swerves across three lanes of traffic in order to make the I-5 ramp.  Bus driver slams on the brakes and suddenly I'm face down, sprawled on the floor, my head ricocheting inside my helmet.  Did I mention that getting my gear together meant putting on my helmet, without which I would probably be in an ER right now?

130. To Fold or Not to Fold

I have occasionally commented on the disappointment that comes when an arriving bus has a full bike rack.  Some fit two bikes, others three, but once full, that's it; no bikes on the bus.  More likely in the summer but can happen anytime.

Solution #1:  Just wait 30 minutes for the next bus.  Only once has the following bus also been full, meaning an hour wait.  If the weather's okay, and I have a smart phone or computer (e.g., my new Air), I'm okay.  But if the day has been long or frustrating, the wait seems interminable.

#2: Lock up my bike at the bus stop, and then pick it up in the morning.  After two stolen bikes from the bus stop, scratch this option.

#3: A folding bike, that can be taken on board, in a bag no bigger than common carry-on luggage.  So I've started the process of googling and test-riding that may end up with a folding bike in the garage and at my foot on the bus.