McGill Rides: Liz!

Posted at 02:01AM on Apr 18, 2008 by JayPloss

Q: How are you connected with McGill University?

I'm a U3 Environment student.

Q: How long have you been commuting by bicycle?

I got my bike at the beginning of 2nd year, so more or less since then. (I guess I started biking to school in grade 2 or 3, but that doesn't really count!)

Q: Do you cycle all year round?

Yeah! Winter biking's like a living video game. The conditions are always different and you never know what to expect.

Q: How long is your commute?

10-20 minutes, depending on the lights and the snow.

Q: What does it take for you to trade your U-lock for a metro ticket or a steering wheel?

Bad luck and bad timing...then I'll just walk. (Or skip class to fix my bike!)

Q: What is the best part of commuting by bicycle?

Realizing that everything is just a bike ride away. It's a great way to get to know the city. Also, I really enjoy taking in the patterns on the way to and from school—watching things along the route change over time and seeing how they stay the same (like knowing whether I'll catch that light 4 blocks away if I can make it through the next one).

Q: The worst part?

Not being seen by cars and buses! It's really frustrating when people don't pay attention when they're turning or opening their car doors. Also, the salt truck, and those thick chunks of snow on the pavement that send you into an unexpected moguls run.

Q: If you could put one cycling-related law into effect, what would it be? Why?

Improved driver training for taxi cabs.

Q: Piece of bike gear you can't live without?

I never leave home without my fanny-pack-of-bike-stuff. (Pump, patch kit, oil, small wrench, multi-tool...) It lives in the bottom of my backpack and always seems to come in handy.... A few months ago I got hit on the Maisonneuve bike path, but had everything I needed to fix up my bike and ride home.

Q: Favourite route on the island of Montreal?

Anything downhill! St. Urbain from Duluth is a sweet hill without a lot of lights to worry about, and it's even got the bike path.

Q: Any advice for fellow students new to cycling in the city?

Always wear a helmet, use a white light in front and a red one in the back (never the other way around—it's really confusing!) and be smart about which rules you break. It's really important to take riding seriously so that the cars will take you—and other cyclists—seriously too.