AFS Cinema
Not a Fan
RECEIVED Wed., July 21, 2021
Dear Editor,
I'm a bike commuter, or was before the lockdown. I take South Congress into Downtown from the St. Elmo area. We are slowly returning to the office – it's great to get back on the road. I've bike commuted for years, and my ride to and from work frame the work day nicely. On my South Congress, I dodge the occasional horse and try to avoid the inevitable horse poop, am on the alert for stressed out drivers attempting back-in parking, and generally people watch on my way to and from work. I'll admit I don't enjoy the scooters. I find the drivers are generally not respectful. And I don't like playing chicken with the ones riding the wrong way in the bike lanes.
My latest adventure in Austin biking is the pizza delivery robots. When I first read about them, I was skeptical. My first encounter with one was irritating. It was stalled in the bike lane, and the helpless human attendant accurately pointed out "It's broken.” My second encounter was passing one (they are slow), and having it swerve to the side and skid to a stop as I came up behind it. The skidding was a bit startling. Can't say I'm a fan.
I'm a bike commuter, or was before the lockdown. I take South Congress into Downtown from the St. Elmo area. We are slowly returning to the office – it's great to get back on the road. I've bike commuted for years, and my ride to and from work frame the work day nicely. On my South Congress, I dodge the occasional horse and try to avoid the inevitable horse poop, am on the alert for stressed out drivers attempting back-in parking, and generally people watch on my way to and from work. I'll admit I don't enjoy the scooters. I find the drivers are generally not respectful. And I don't like playing chicken with the ones riding the wrong way in the bike lanes.
My latest adventure in Austin biking is the pizza delivery robots. When I first read about them, I was skeptical. My first encounter with one was irritating. It was stalled in the bike lane, and the helpless human attendant accurately pointed out "It's broken.” My second encounter was passing one (they are slow), and having it swerve to the side and skid to a stop as I came up behind it. The skidding was a bit startling. Can't say I'm a fan.
john