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RR: November 2002 Las Vegas USA

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My family gathered in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving as well as to celebrate my Mother's 60th Birthday... Irony not withstanding, I embarked on the last Friday of November in search of a bicycle to rent and ride. Why? What's the point of a single rider in relation to a critical mass? One Less Car to be sure, but the impact is somewhat less. It really was just an attempt to find a better mode of transportation, which of course is a bike. And while I was looking for a bike, I may as well jot some notes and take a few pictures. Just to record the person-on-the-streets's impression of bike culture from a pedestrian's viewpoint - but not really, that would have entailed talking with actual local riders, or groups, which I did look up, but didn't find a Critical Mass or anything other than a training ride type group. A trip through Vegas on foot through the lens of a bike, or rather the eyes of a biker, one with road miles of the pedal variety....

Any thing done in Vegas is worth doing via the advice of your friendly concierge. It was a good day to get away. Seems a limo had been arranged for a rock bottom price and a trip to the Hoover Dam was in the works. My neices and nephews were going for a ride so our usual game at the pool of Drown The Uncle was off for the afternoon.

Here are six out of seven (now eight) of the little ones with their limo driver. Turns out he had more experience driving a cab; that and a few curves along the way had a couple folks beyond green and a few un-scheduled emergency stops were required. This is a pre-ride picture.

The concierge quickly picked up the phone and her bright cheery voice reassured me and gave me confidence that surely in a town where your every desire can be fulfilled pretty much within the bounds of local law a bike could be had. Hummers, Lambourginis, fancy schmancy German Automobiles cruising around with RENT ME! signs on them. Come on, how could a little piece of metal, rubber and few components give such a service system any troubles.

In what was soon to be a familiar reaction, upon making my request known to the concierge I was greeted with a pause. The kinetic energy of a mind gone awhirl steadily flowed from the phone. I pictured a furrowed brow above darting eyes for some reference document, some note from that health freak up in the Sand Ridge development park, something... A bicycle you say? Yes, I would like a bicycle, and one with two wheels, none of these three or four wheelers will do. OK, well, sir, I must refer this to Pila, he will call you in a few minutes.

Pila, yes, I knew of this fellow. I heard good things from my brother in-laws about Pila. Friendly, helped out with directions to the nearest bookie, I'm sorry, Gambling Parlor. Kind of a make it happen type, the glue that keeps a hotel running smoothly.

This is Pila

After a few minutes Pila dutifully calls. He's inquisitive, he asks a lot of questions, which is comforting. He wants to know exactly what I want. That's cool. I explain that really, any bike will do, just two wheels is all I need. A mountain bike would be nice, I see some hills around here and I heard about some trails that appear to be about 10 miles away. Fantastic would it be to ride upon them. Pila says he'll call me right back. Well, this is looking promising! I'm psyched up. I get dressed for some riding, I start drinking some water, I am ready to ride.

Pila calls back. Immediately I know things are not right. His tone conveys it all. Nothing, nada, this is not going to happen. Pila says, come on down and he can point me to some rental places that might have bikes.

So on my Merry way...

This is Bo.

Bo was cool, he rapped with me for a bit. No bikes for rent though. He had never heard of that. I got his card in case I needed his services later. It's better than a cab.

This is Gary

Gary had never heard of a bike rental occurring in Las Vegas. Seems that had never been requested before. Gary also informed me that riding bike on the Strip is illegal. Hummph! Illegal? Insane!

Dream or NightMare?

Here's a bike at the Strip Branch of the United States Postal Service.

This is the logo shot, the small one is a block down the road, then I zoomed and caught this sidewalk riding rider.

Vegas

This mask dude talked to me for 10 minutes or so. Went to Vietnam, Lived in Vegas 20 years, too much coke -> blew a hole in his nose, thinks most Americans are lazy MFers.

Security Cop - not very friendly. didn't like folks just walking by.

5 Lanes with one turn lane. I like the cars trying to switch lanes, two of 'em. biker waiting at the light. he's riding on the Strip.

Back close to the original starting point, I run across this group trying to pump up the volume on bike rikshaw users. Wanted a lift for a group of 10 or 12 going to Red Moscow in the Pyramid for dinner, but they don't go that far, two plus miles short of the end of the Strip - maybe that's the law Gary was talking about...

But if all else fails, you can always gamble for a ride!