Beating the RAP

October 01, 2016

Beating the RAP

Most of my riding experience in the city of Pomona revolves around Bonita Avenue and the Ganesha Hills area. I can get around easily enough by motor vehicle, but picking good routes by bike would be problematic. Pomona is a big city (relative to the region), its streets can be crowded and, fairly or not, has a certain negative reputation. I have also spent enough time there, in the downtown area for various events, to have seen much positive, and a lot of potential. I have known about the RAP (Ride Around Pomona) for a number of years, but not until today have I felt compelled to join in on the monthly excursion.

The RAP is as far from a training or fitness ride as you can get; it is what I would categorize as a social ride. Fun factors in, but for me it was more about exploration, discovering more about this larger neighbor. In that sense, this mornings' ride was like a tour on two wheels. The ride started from Thomas Plaza in the Arts Colony district downtown, went out to Ganesha Hills, through some historic districts, and examined some new bicycle enhancements. I learned that Pomona has some amazingly quiet streets (at least on a Saturday morning). I learned that, or rather had confirmed, that Pomona has some fantastic and interesting art and architectural treasures which, of course, look completely different when you are not rushing through at thirty-five miles per hour. I learned that sorority houses are located awfully far from the Cal Poly campus. I had confirmed that, given adequate infrastructure, bikes are still the most effective way to get around a core downtown and surrounding areas. Many thanks to ride leader, Marcus for sharing his historical knowledge, and to John of the PVBC for promoting this short (under ten miles), easy-paced ride. Routes change, but the RAP runs regularly, the first Saturday of each month.