My school is about 20 miles from my house. And with gas prices soaring and the fact that we only have one car and my husband would need it to take the kids to their schools, I knew that I was going to have to figure out another way to commute to school four days a week. My first option was to take TRAX since I get an employee discount pass through the hospital that costs only six dollars a month. I checked out the routes and was pretty satisfied that I would be able to get to school on time with a ride on the TRAX train and a quick ride on a city bus to make up the difference.
My first attempt at the TRAX/bus route seemed to work OK except when I got off TRAX I learned that my bus was running behind. So I had to wait an extra 45 minutes for the next bus. UGH. I was nearly an hour late to school. I decided the city buses were not punctual enough for my needs, so that idea was out.
Take two. I decided I would still take TRAX only I would ride my bicycle to the station, take the train and then ride from the station to school and bypass the whole bus fiasco. The first morning I woke up early, lugged on my 70lb backpack and hopped on my bike. It wasn't as comfortable as my trial run the night before but I was determined. Only a few blocks from my house I heard a noise like something falling from the bike. I pulled over, checked the gears and the pedals and also checked that my iPod was still snug in my pocket. Everything was fine. I continued on and made it to the TRAX station before I realized my cell phone was not in my pocket...yup, it was my phone jumping out of my pocket that had made the sound blocks before.
I pedaled like mad to make it back to the intersection where I remember hearing the noise. Sure enough, there was my phone, smashed and broken. My legs were killing me with the effort of riding, my shoulders were aching from the weight of my back pack and I was still going to be late for school. There had to be another way. Why was trying to be eco-friendly turning out to be such a nightmare?!
I decided it was high time I learned to ride the scooter.
A few years ago we purchased a 2003 Piaggio LT150. It's always been the standard for short trips but my husband has always driven it and I've only ridden as the passenger. He was nice enough to teach me a few things and before I knew it, I was zipping around the neighborhood. I felt confident enough that I could take it on the extended trip to school.
The first morning of the scoot ride started off great. I was nervous but it was so early in the morning, I had the road to myself. This made it easier to drive more cautiously with out having to worry about pissing off the driver behind me. I nearly made it half way before, while at a stop light, the scooter vibrated and then went silent....it was dead! I rolled it to the side of the road and up onto the sidewalk to see if I could get it to start. I jiggled the keys, checked the gauges and the oil. Everything was perfect. What gives? My repeated calls home went unanswered. Everyone was still asleep and had no clue I was stranded. So, I parked the scooter near a shopping center and started to walk. Every half block or so I would put a call home into my phone and pray silently that someone would answer. Over thirty minutes later I was still walking when my husband FINALLY woke up and answered the phone. I was beyond upset at this point. He came to rescue me and as we drove to check out the scooter I told him, "You know when we get to the scooter you're going to touch it and it will start right up." Sure enough, he hit the started button one time and she rumbled to life. UGH.
I'm convinced at this point that Satan knows that I'm going to be one incredible nurse. Probably save hundreds if not thousands of lives and that is why he is determined to keep me discouraged and transportation-less so that I will drop out of school. He should also know then that I don't give up that easily.
Today I was my first trip all the way out to school and back on the scooter with no problems. It felt really good to be able to overcome my own fears and hesitations about that mode of transportation and turn it into a positive part of my schooling. And I'm actually surprised to learn that I had FUN while driving it. It's empowering. And with a mileage of 75mi/gallon, the scooter is my new best friend.
My first attempt at the TRAX/bus route seemed to work OK except when I got off TRAX I learned that my bus was running behind. So I had to wait an extra 45 minutes for the next bus. UGH. I was nearly an hour late to school. I decided the city buses were not punctual enough for my needs, so that idea was out.
Take two. I decided I would still take TRAX only I would ride my bicycle to the station, take the train and then ride from the station to school and bypass the whole bus fiasco. The first morning I woke up early, lugged on my 70lb backpack and hopped on my bike. It wasn't as comfortable as my trial run the night before but I was determined. Only a few blocks from my house I heard a noise like something falling from the bike. I pulled over, checked the gears and the pedals and also checked that my iPod was still snug in my pocket. Everything was fine. I continued on and made it to the TRAX station before I realized my cell phone was not in my pocket...yup, it was my phone jumping out of my pocket that had made the sound blocks before.
I pedaled like mad to make it back to the intersection where I remember hearing the noise. Sure enough, there was my phone, smashed and broken. My legs were killing me with the effort of riding, my shoulders were aching from the weight of my back pack and I was still going to be late for school. There had to be another way. Why was trying to be eco-friendly turning out to be such a nightmare?!
I decided it was high time I learned to ride the scooter.
A few years ago we purchased a 2003 Piaggio LT150. It's always been the standard for short trips but my husband has always driven it and I've only ridden as the passenger. He was nice enough to teach me a few things and before I knew it, I was zipping around the neighborhood. I felt confident enough that I could take it on the extended trip to school.
The first morning of the scoot ride started off great. I was nervous but it was so early in the morning, I had the road to myself. This made it easier to drive more cautiously with out having to worry about pissing off the driver behind me. I nearly made it half way before, while at a stop light, the scooter vibrated and then went silent....it was dead! I rolled it to the side of the road and up onto the sidewalk to see if I could get it to start. I jiggled the keys, checked the gauges and the oil. Everything was perfect. What gives? My repeated calls home went unanswered. Everyone was still asleep and had no clue I was stranded. So, I parked the scooter near a shopping center and started to walk. Every half block or so I would put a call home into my phone and pray silently that someone would answer. Over thirty minutes later I was still walking when my husband FINALLY woke up and answered the phone. I was beyond upset at this point. He came to rescue me and as we drove to check out the scooter I told him, "You know when we get to the scooter you're going to touch it and it will start right up." Sure enough, he hit the started button one time and she rumbled to life. UGH.
I'm convinced at this point that Satan knows that I'm going to be one incredible nurse. Probably save hundreds if not thousands of lives and that is why he is determined to keep me discouraged and transportation-less so that I will drop out of school. He should also know then that I don't give up that easily.
Today I was my first trip all the way out to school and back on the scooter with no problems. It felt really good to be able to overcome my own fears and hesitations about that mode of transportation and turn it into a positive part of my schooling. And I'm actually surprised to learn that I had FUN while driving it. It's empowering. And with a mileage of 75mi/gallon, the scooter is my new best friend.
1 comment:
That is such a great idea to ride a scooter we have been thinking about getting one the last few years. Do you need a motorcycle license? I am looking to see if they sell XXL helmets a girl with a large head and a weave has no chance of fitting into a normal sized helmet. Good luck;)
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