Broad Ripple Random Ripplings

Brought to you by:

Everything Broad Ripple Home

Random Ripplings Home

2016 05 13

Column

Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v13n10)

Round the Ripple - by Bill Malcolm

posted: May 13, 2016

Careless and carefree in the Ripple - NOT? (week four)

OK, I went all of April without a motor vehicle in the Ripple. It is definitely doable but I am longing for a car. The convenience. The lack of waiting. No uncertainty (until your check battery light comes on.)

This week's adventures:

UBER surges

I finally got the UBER app to load on my iPhone with another credit card (my corporate account blocked it as an iTunes purchase for whatever reason).

When I needed a ride (6:10 p.m. on Saturday 4/23), I was told surge (double) pricing was in effect to encourage more drivers to come out. Would I agree to pay twice the normal rate? No.

So I biked to my potluck instead. I haven't tried Uber or Lyft but still plan to (and plan to try BlueIndy).

IndyGo is great when it is on time.

I've learned coming from downtown at rush hour, that's not very often.

We have two lines that serve downtown from Broad Ripple: the 17 and 18. Or should I say four: the 17, the 17A, the 18 and the 18A.

On Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 6:37 p.m., I had to wait an extra 20 minutes in the rain for the #17 on my trip downtown.

Returning at 7:24 pm was worse. The bus was 53 minutes late and I had to go on their 17A bus which goes to Broad Ripple via Glendale (where the driver takes a break). No sooner had I gotten on the 17A , then the actual bus I wanted, the #17, sped by.

So it took over an hour to go downtown and another hour plus to get back.

The driver on the way back said this particular run was consistently almost an hour behind schedule.

A few days later the same thing happened.

I hopped on the 17A at Ohio and Meridian. Due to traffic, it took almost 35 minutes to get out of downtown due to the curious circle route they follow. They go from Ohio and Meridian and then make a long circle back to City Market before heading up Mass. Avenue and then up College. It tacks on an unneeded extra 20 minutes on a good day.

The bus was also 45 minutes late.

Apparently coming from downtown at rush hour is an issue. It's annoying.

IMA discourages bicyclists

On April 28, 2016, I had to go to the Indianapolis Art Museum to work at a company function.

I rode my bicycle down via the Canal Towpath which was great except for the geese.

Going home, the IMA security guard would not let me exit onto Michigan Avenue and insisted I exit onto congested 38th Street on my bike. Since there is no bike path or sidewalk on 38th, I finally crawled under the security gate to exit onto Michigan Avenue which does have a side walk. "Bikes used to cut through our property," he complained.

The new policies at the IMA are discouraging visitors and decidedly unfriendly to bicyclists-even those going to the IMA as a destination. And $18 to visit is outrageous. This isn't Paris.

Beware of breeding geese

When biking, walking or jogging on the various paths in the area, take the "hissing geese" seriously. They are protecting their young and will bite your leg if you don't get out of the way. If a geese hisses at you (as two did tonight while riding to the IMA on the Central Canal Towpath), move out of their way. They will chase you and even bite your leg with their teeth to protect their young. Hissing geese are no laughing matter.

Summer outdoor concerts scheduled at Broad Ripple Park

Broad Ripple Park has summer outdoor concerts every other Friday.

Holliday Park also has them select Thursdays at 7pm. Here is the Holliday Park schedule (with type of music):

June 2, 2016, Cathy Morris (electronic violin/jazz)

June 16, 2016, Matt Roush (popular covers/pop hits)

At Holliday Park, Food trucks will be at the concerts from 6pm to 9pm. Visit www.indyfta.com for a schedule and menus.

IMA Summer Nights films scheduled

The Indianapolis Museum of Art summer nights film series schedule has been released. The outdoor movies start June 3, 2016, and run through late August. The fee is $12 this year. The first film is June 3, 2016, Bad Boys. Casablanca and West Side Story are on the roster plus several double features including both Road House and Dirty Dancing on July 29, 2016.

Upcoming

May 20, 2016 - BR Art Fair Preview Party at Indpls Art Center

May 20, 2016 - BR Park Concert Series, BR Park

May 21 & 22, 2016 - BR Art Fair at Indpls Art Center

May 28, 2016 - BR Park pool opens

Bill Malcolm also writes a travel column in The Midwest Eagle and is a reporter for All Aboard Indiana (as a volunteer for both). He advocates for fair and affordable utility rates for a national association based in Washington, D.C. He welcomes reader feedback and story ideas. Send to Bill@BroadRippleGazette.com

bill@broadripplegazette.com

Brought to you by:

Brought to you by: