It is hard to stay positive about improvements while being constantly rattled and often jarred as one pedals over street work. In short, some of the streets I most often bike over are in horrendous shape. It is well known there has been over the past few months major work taking place on some of the off-Broadway area streets; the one most affected near where I rent is South San Lorenzo, which over the past few weeks has seen some pretty heavy equipment doing what heavy equipment does best.
The same could be said about other streets in the nearby area, Bassett is another but these upheavals in the roadways include the eventual repaving of those streets, along with, I believe, South Third and South First streets. But like all towns, the need for street upgrades is a never-ending and costly venture; here in town I see many new applications of asphalt where either chunks are missing and pot holes are left behind or where previous street jobs have sunken enough to qualify as hazardous. The majority of these sunken areas on 10th Street are where underground utilities have been worked on and are square in shape, of the new asphalt spot repairs the majority are these previous repair jobs.
While rough streets are to be expected given the wear and tear they get, it is often more difficult riding on some streets given their width and traffic flow. The width never changes but the traffic flow depends upon vehicle drivers and their competency. And no better street exemplifies this that does Broadway.
I for one have no problem using Broadway, and like all bike riders I rely much upon hearing to know what is happening with the vehicle just to my rear. For example, when stopping at an intersection before turning onto Broadway, it is natural to see the approaching vehicle that will be behind me as I navigate the narrow space between cars parked at the curb and cars going in my direction. A competent and confident driver will pass me by without much concern; I note here that for the most part these drivers are behind the wheel of pickups.
But when I hear the vehicle behind me has slowed from its normal speed to my speed and hangs back until either I move into an empty parking space or two or come to the next intersection where I can again make more space between us before I know that driver will pass me. That driver does not have the confidence behind the wheel to chance passing in close quarters. These two causal effects upon a driver may be in play when drivers meet with bicycles at posted intersections, either two-way or four-way stops.
If most drivers would realize that for those of us riders who try to adhere to traffic laws, our bikes are the same as a car. If I stop on Broadway, for example, in the left-hand turn lane onto Russ Street, then I go within the legal rotation. But I can’t tell the number of times I have waited for the cross traffic to clear only for the driver in the oncoming lane, who reached the intersection before I did, sit there and wait for me to turn in front of them. I don’t move. I look at anything but that driver until they decide to continue on their way because I know they are sitting behind the wheel waving me to go; something they would never do with a car. But, all in all, riding around town is a pleasure when weather permits, so with the other bike riders in town, I’ll patiently await the new surfaces to come.
***
As I write these last few words, the clock reads 6:01 a.m., a minute shy of six hours before deadline. Let me use the space remaining to grumble a bit; this is what old men do best.
I get my social security payment via a debit card in lieu of having any type of dealings with banks, which I find predatory. For over a decade, an autopay of my internet service had gone without problem until two months ago when the internet provider went unpaid. It took hours of time on calls, you know the routine of pushing various numbers or verbally telling some AI voice what you want before finally getting a real human on the line, before the matter was settled. At one point I rode the bus to Salinas to make a cash payment so as not to lose service because the debit card people had canceled my card without notification. I got a new card, gave it to the internet provider and made a payment to avoid penalty. Now the internet website shows I made a payment and owe the normal monthly amount but a three-day-old email says I owe twice the amount plus penalty fees. So, this morning will be spent on the phone trying to work that out.
***
Also, on this Monday, I suppose I will have to deal with Mee Memorial Healthcare System — again. The reason is because I have Hepatitis C and have had for some 38 years; I just didn’t know it until last December. If you want to know how I got that particular malady, ask me and I’ll tell you. Last January I was prescribed medications, three pills a day for eight weeks and I’m cured. But at a cost of $70-$100 thousand I was told my post medication appointment would not be for three months, as it would take the pharmaceutical company, the insurance people and the pharmacy a month to negotiate the payment. I heard nothing for three months, so three weeks ago I went to the clinic and explained the situation and was told it would be looked into. Still, not a word from anyone. It seems to me things used to be easier. Thus endeth the rant.
Take care. Peace.
