The Morning Grind

And....they're coming across the line, black's pulling out first but blue is close behind. They're peddling furiously folks, with the pack following close behind. Rows two and three are splitting and coming around the outside - better squeeze in on the left there, bus #13 will be turning right soon. Oh no, a pedestrian unit is entering the street, looks like they're going to go for it - they're walking steady and the swerving begins.

This, and much much more, is my life every morning at7:34 AM when I pull out of my apartment complex into the bike lane in Beijing. In those previous minutes preceding 8:00, everyone is on a mission and in a hurry, including me. We pass and swerve, ring our bells and avoid small children, all in the name of arriving to work on time. I have managed to avoid any major accidents thus far, though I recently had my first scare of a side swipe from a swerving moto (no worries, no permanent injuries). I'm seriously thinking of rigging some kind of rear view mirror for my bike, though a helmet might be a more practical realistic purchase.

Okay, check mirrors and pull out, increase speed and watch for pedestrians. Lunch break is over, and I've got to brave the streets to make it to my conference on time.