NEW JOB!
yes... new job...
after over 20 years as an IT Specialist
I have transitioned away from the keyboard
and
onto the bicycle
over the past many months after leaving my contractor position at the Smithsonian Institution I have decided to leave IT
no longer "The Computer Guy"
now... I am a Capital Bike Share Mobile tech!
worked my first full week as a Capital Bike Share Tech!
not working in the warehouse
out on the streets
riding from Bike Share Station to Bike Share Station inspecting\repairing Bike Share Bikes
since I am new to the game... I am still in training
I have the pleasure of learning the tricks of the trade from the King of Capital Bike Share... Rod Smith!
although I have never seen Rod's resume... I think I have a basic idea...
Rod was a long time DC Bicycle messenger...
starting in the late 80's... then working on through the every changing decade
messenger business peaks and messenger business collapse...
moving from standard messenger work to larger items
pulling a trailer Rod became one of several Cargo Messengers in the city
at the time...
I think Rod, Scrooge, and Cargo Mike RULED THE DOWNTOWN BIG BOX DELIVERY WORLD
on any given day any one of these guys could be seen moving a trailer full of boxes that would weigh down my Honda Element
then to the present time...roughly two and a half years ago Rod moved from the slowly dying messenger world to the more stable paycheck of the Capital Bike Share worker...
many messengers have moved to DC Capital Bike Share for bicycle related work in The District
over the past few years Rod has proved himself as a more than capable tech
going from standard Mobile Technician to Team Lead
a well deserved promotion to a person who takes great pride in his work
DETAIL... ATTENTION TO DETAIL...
ROD LIKES TO BE THOROUGH!!!
so... when I was hired on... I was assigned to work under the shadow of the man the myth Rod Smith...
Rod is a somewhat atypical bicycle messenger... not entirely a "messenger type"
he is not an "urban hipster"
Rod does not "hang in the park"
Rod does not ride a fixed gear
Rod was not part of the Messenger Fashion Runway... Rod is not Messenger Chic...
Rod is Rod...
a little older... a little old school...
leaning more to Deadhead than Punk
no... Rod is a different animal
an impressive animal at that!
Rod is a LONG MILE PHENOM!
in a soft silent humble way... Rod competes in various cycling groups for daily\weekly\monthly\yearly bicycle mile challenges
as a solo effort and as part of an electronic team
it is not uncommon for Rod to go for a bicycle ride after work to make sure he logs enough miles to fulfill his long mile ambitions
ALL THIS AT THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE... yes... 65!
over the years doing my "photo thing"
I have managed to capture a number of photos of Rod in his various different incarnations
his various bikes
in addition to my photos of RodRod has managed to capture a few photos of me!
so...
Capital Bike Share is an AMAZING OPERATION!
there are many layers to the system
it has been an evolution
there are teams of workers
Mobile Mechanics
then also... a number of mechanics in the CaBi Warehouse
then in addition to the mechanics in the field
there are various trucks out in the field
Bike Share Stations are Repaired\Installed by a Team
then...
there is another team that shuffles the bikes... Moving the bikes from the crowded racks to the reckless stations
as it is not uncommon for all the bikes to come downtown in the morning
leaving no bikes in the surrounding areas
and
leaving no open docks downtown
and then there are trucks picking up bikes with issued that can not be repaired by the techs in the field
it is a lot of hands in the mix
a bit of an Octopus with all those hands
the repairs tend to be simple
yet the work is hard
Rod beats the drum like a Viking Commander!!!
one day was freezing rain...
we only took a break for lunch
had that been my first day... it would have been my last
bring on the warm weather...
no more freezing rain please
I believe in Capital Bike Share
I believe in Bike Share around the Country and around the world
in my mind...
BikeShare is one of the greatest transportation advances in the last 100 years!
sure... cars are faster... but they are still just cars
the same goes for air travel
no real changes...
just cleaner and smoother
but the BikeShare System
it has really changed the fabric of the city
it has changed how people get around!
well...
that is enough for now
next thing...
how do I afford life on this massive reduction in salary?
that is a question for another day
first I need to get settled into this NEW JOB!
