Yesterday was April Fools Day, which makes today seem like a cruel joke. Except for all of you who were planning on calling in sick in the first place and instead, are having a secret powder day.
The lovely folks over at The Weather Channel are predicting up to five inches of snowfall throughout the day today. Which aside from being five inches of snow after some days of epic weather in the past week, we wanted to chime in with a few season transition tips to get you from this winter that’s dead set on hanging around into the spring and summer.
Clear off the top of your car. Hey, the weather’s been good. You parked outside today (or every day). Do you know how fun it is to get stuck on 36 behind a car that did the bare minimum and only swept off their windshield and windows? It’s like being stuck in a mini blizzard that escorts you for your entire trip. Super awesome. Take two extra minutes and brush that snow off the top of your car.
Bike racks in parking lots. While this isn’t the place for a rant about the Whole Foods parking lot, let’s go ahead and make it about the Whole Foods parking lot. If you have a bike rack that extends off the back of your car, don’t be a jerk and park in an end-of-aisle parking space. Your bikes and other drivers are in peril as they take a tight parking lot corner and potentially plow right into your road sleds. Unacceptable. Also, if you have a folding bike rack on the back of your car and you don’t have bikes on it, fold that sucker up and help people everywhere get around the parking lot with ease.
Bike etiquette. You’re a vehicle. Ride like one. If you want motorists to respect bikes, we have to begin by respecting the rules of the road. Rally your group ride compadres to ride respectfully and stop running stop signs and red lights. We want you around for another season, not roadkill because you thought you were special and someone driving a car expected you to…act like a car.
Multipurpose trail etiquette. Boulder is blessed with an amazing trail system filled with walkers, runners, and cyclists. Runners — run with ONE earbud in. You can’t hear cyclists announcing a passing otherwise. Walkers — please don’t walk three-wide across the paths. Go ark-style and make it two by two. And cyclists, also ride with one earbud in ONLY so you can hear cars and other cyclists announcing a passing. Oh, and lest we forget — announce clearly, “ON YOUR LEFT” when you’re making a move. Finally, be kind. These trails are filled with tourists and those unfamiliar with trail etiquette. Swearing and being rude won’t get you anywhere good, but it’ll get you there fast. Wait — one more. Motorists — respect the bikes. They have every right to be on the road, just like you and there are few who give the rest of us a bad name. We apologize on their behalf.
