P H OTO G R A P H Y BY T R AS K B E D O RT H A
Kickin’ It Down the Road
The alternative to alternative transport
I
’m not sure at what point I became a
nervous person. I can trace it back to
certain events that broke my confi dence
over time. One such event occurred when
I was 8. I won’t bore you with details,
but let’s just say I took the hill next to
my house on my bike at an ill-advised
speed. This resulted in my face getting an introduction to
the pavement — and the two did not get along.
I continued to ride a bike, but as time went on I found
myself increasingly frazzled on city streets, until fi nally
I gave up and handed over my bicycle to my brother,
deeming it unimaginable for commuting.
But let’s face it: In times like these, with gas prices high
and in a town with alternative commuting an important
part of our social obligation, I couldn’t in good conscience
continue to drive every day. The sun is out, the sidewalks
are dry (sort of) and I really do want to do my part.
BY SARAH DECKER
I’ve always been partial to walking. Until recently I
favored walking to work over driving, but I’m not exactly
built for speed. My people are of a roving-the-plains
variety, built sturdy, low to the ground, much like a Weeble.
So getting from place to place in a reasonable amount of
time became a bit of a joke.
Then I found my solution: a kick scooter.
As a grown woman, I had to eliminate from the running
such vehicles as the Razor scooter. Sure, a Razor works
and can be a quite effective way of traveling from point A
to point B, but I needed something more. I live in a hill-
infested part of town. A little speed, one wayward rock
under the rollerblade-like wheels of the Razor and I’d
be reintroducing my face to the pavement and, as you’ll
recall, it didn’t go so well the last time.
Internet searches turned up many a promising solution,
the foremost being a scooter developed in large part for
the training of sled dogs. For all intents and purposes, it is
identical to its young cousin the Razor. This fi ne vehicle,
however, has the tires of a small bicycle and, much to
my delight, hand brakes. The bracket and harness, which
attach to the side, are easily removable for a dog-free ride.
The last hurdle in this endeavor became the price. These
beauties aren’t exactly inexpensive, and though I might
present myself differently in various circles, I’m not so
great with a blowtorch, so building my own was a far cry
from reality. Enter Craigslist. In a move that I can only
identify as fate, I found a gentleman in Portland who was
looking to off-load one. He had bought it for his children
and, much to my luck, he wasn’t exactly sure what it was
for. The kids outgrew it, he wanted the garage space back
and, on a rather perfectly timed day trip to the big city, I
swung by to take it off his hands.
The fi rst few spins on the scooter weren’t free of
harrowing moments. Balance is something that comes with
time, and confi dence will certainly need building. The idea
that I can hop off with ease at any time helps me to relax.
The ride is smooth and, on enough of a down-slope, it’s
much like traveling on your own moving sidewalk.
So now I can make my commute petrol-free: the wind
in my (helmet-covered) hair, the sun on my face and the
comfort of knowing that I’m not precariously perched on
a vehicle as frightening as a bicycle.
ew
Take the lane!
Bicyclist
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M–F
11-7pm
Sundays
It’s the safe and
lawful
thing to do.
Sat.
in Dec.
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10–6pm
12–4pm
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20 styles casual biking shorts in stock!
Save at Bike Daze sale July 28th thru 31st.
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EUGENE WEEKLY JULY 21, 2011
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