Bus day one

There's a reason that they call it the SMART ("suburban mobile authority for regional transportation") bus. A quick bike ride from Chez Richardson, 2 bits, already 1/2 full with young to mid professionals, texting and checking messages on the way, relaxing ride and boom -- dropped off right downtown. 45 minutes for what would have taken 30 min. plus in my 28.5 mpg sedan. And saving $10 or more on parking. Viva le SMART!

I do have to admit that I initially thought I was waiting on the wrong street when I saw a different bus go by. But a quick call to homebase to check the route map online and a walk 1/2 a block away put me at another stop-- and then in the end it turned out that both stops were on the route.

The SMART website also said that each bus has a rack for 2 bikes in the front. I did not see that, but I've emailed their office as I may not have been looking in the right spot. That will leave a challenge for the next trip which will be after Labor Day. We're taking the kids to Lake Michigan with a stop at the Meijer Gardens along the way. We'll make sure that the DIA Rodin is properly sited in its temporary location.