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| Photo by Dennis Jones |
Celebrating Bike to Work week each May is something I look forward
to every year. However, riding my bike to work is different this year because
like so many others, I am working from home, so this year’s commute is
especially short and private. Just
because I am working from home does not exclude me from the joy of celebrating Bike
Month. This year my solo ride is in
sharp contrast to previous Bike Week rides with our colleagues at Caltrans, who celebrated by riding their bikes to work. For the staff
that wanted to participate but did not own a bike, Cyclery USA in Redlands
generously loaned a truck full of bikes to borrow that morning. Ride marshals joined in for safety and the 3-mile
early morning ride in downtown San Bernardino was a blast.
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| Photo by Dennis Jones |
To get in
the swing of this year’s Bike to Work Week, we jumped on the PE Trail and
enjoyed the cool morning temperature as we headed for Central Park in Rancho
Cucamonga. The Trail was brimming with
walkers, runners and yes of course cyclists.
I look forward to riding my bike on the PE trail for physical exercise
and as a mental health stress reliever. The City installed safety technology at
the street crossings that detect when a cyclist is present. We
rode on and met up with Bob who is an avid cyclist and regularly invites his niece
from Ontario to join him for a ride on the PE Trail. We continued to meet up with so many
residents who enjoy running and walking with their dogs. Dogs and their owners are a familiar sight on
the Trail, and it is always a treat to stop to say hello. More people are adopting pets for
companionship especially during the current shelter in place mandate. Animal shelters are empty as the number of
lost dogs has diminished because we are home with our pets to keep them
company.
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| Photo by Dennis Jones |
Here are a
few of the folks we met on the Trail this week. We rode past the Prison City
Roller Derby Team, ladies who roll down the PE Trail together having way too
much fun. We also met Chase and his dog
“Bailey”, Bob and his dog “Ringo Star”, Katy, Vera and their pet “Abigale”,
Dario and his dog “Nala”, Jack and his pooch “Roxy”, Enrique, Mason and their
puppies “Bella” and “Cash”, Vincent, Fiera and their dog “Nia”, Christina and
Lee and their pooches “Pepper” and “Indy”.
We are looking forward to boarding our two favorite four legged friends,
“Lady” and her companion and playmate, “Myrtle” next week and taking them for a
walk on the Trail.
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| Photo by Victoria Jones |
Half of the
folks we stopped to talk with raved about how much they appreciate the Trail
and how many want the open space to remain open at Central Park in lieu of
being developed. They shared that the
open space is natural, quiet, and home for many hummingbirds, rabbits,
butterflies, etc. Some natural
fauna in the open space include Russian thistle (future tumbleweeds), varieties
of cactus, buckwheat, mug wart, and some wild growth grapevines that could be descendants
of plantings by Segundo Guasti. Taking
in nature while you are enjoying your regular bike ride is like getting two for
one.
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| Photo by Dennis Jones |
If you are working from
home, you can enjoy the simple pleasures of a neighborhood bike ride. Your ride
does not have to be mapped out, just explore streets that you may never have
ridden before and enjoy yourself. Every block opens a door to new adventure. What you may have
driven numerous times becomes entirely different when slowed down and viewed
from two wheels. Riding around your neighborhood, even just around the block,
can provide what a lot of us need right now — a much-needed break. Simultaneously keeping our bodies and minds healthy and active,
you might be surprised at how much a short ride can improve your day.
2020 will go down in the history books as the year we held our
breath waiting for testing for the COVID-19 virus and a proven vaccine to help
save lives. 2020 also marks the
thousands of students who did not get to celebrate together in graduation
ceremonies. This year forced us to
re-examine our numerous blessings and tested our endurance for patience and
understanding with each other. I am
hoping that Bike Month 2021 will be bigger and better than ever. If you have a story to share about how you
navigated sheltering in place, or what you learned from this shared experience,
please use #MYTRAILSTORY, until then, “See you on the Trail”. Some people we met on the trail this weekend were on bikes, and some were walking their dogs. Who is your trail buddy? Let us know in the comment section below.
- Victoria Jones Friend of the Pacific Electric Trail
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