Cycling to school is an adventure in itself

One fine day, korkor asked me why is that in our country, school children can't cycle to school.

Maybe he thinks it's so cool to be doing that. 

Seriously, I thought that it was cool too once upon a time, before I really HAD to.

In my secondary school years, during that time when I moved in to stay with my 3rd Aunt, I had no other choice but to cycle to school everyday. Thinking about that, I just remembered I hadn't continue on from the first post on my life story... somewhere. *yawn*

I never knew how far the distance my cycling route to school was, and I googled map to find it out, after about 25 years or so now. The distance from home to school that time is 13km, crossing maybe about 5-6 traffic lights junctions, and the biggest junction would be the one from Jln Pasir Puteh to Jln Yang Kalsom. That one is HUGE! I remember I need to peddle very quickly so that I would reach the other side before the lights turned red and in the meantime, avoid the cars zooming past me. I used that junction so very often, that I know exactly if I was at a certain distance from the lights while it was green, I knew I should just slow down for I won't be able to cross it before the lights turn. 

Actually, this method of going to school is not really that bad. At that time, safety was much better and cars were definitely lesser. I remember, in fact, I love it early in the mornings when the air was cool and the day seemed to be such a good day! Most times, it was just lovely in the mornings. 

But come afternoon time, after school? It was *bawl* SO BAD! The burning hot sun and the exhaustiveness from the school day's activities basically took the joy of cycling totally away. Can you imagine me with schoolbag, dodging passing cars, zooming traffic lights WHILE CARRYING AN UMBRELLA??? My goodness, I thank GOD that I am still alive today, miraculously!

There was a time I had a gargantuan big lump behind my back which was hurting me like hell and I couldn't turn my head. But still need to cycle to school that day. It was so painful I went to any of the clinics after school and the nurse basically did an operation on me to dig out all the pus and whatever it was inside that thing. I looked at the mirror after it was over and a big hole the size of maybe a 5 cents coin and depth of 1cm was visible. Never able to find out what caused that but it was a huge relief.

So, I told my kiddo, perhaps you think cycling to school is such a cool thing to do now, but when you had to  do it, you would really understand how damn lucky you are to be chauffeured around in an air conditioned car instead. 

If only the safety in our country is much more better (no abductions at all!), bicycle lanes all over the city and covered lanes from the sun and the rain, I would surely am agreeable to you cycling to school yourself. Will we ever see that day? I doubt so.

Come to think of it, was I ever caught in the rain last time? Maybe yes, but not so eventful as I can recall. Most likely would be hanging around under some shade just like those motorcyclist or having a shower in the rain on the bike. Might as well, right?

I do remember there was a time I came home from school to find the house empty and I had to wait for about 1 to 2 hours right outside the gate for my aunt to come home. That was the only time I felt really sorry for myself.