This is Why I Ride My Bike to Work

So for most of the summer I have ridden (driven? Technically, it's a vehicle - but can you get a DUI on it is the real question?) my bike to work. It's a relatively short ride, ten minutes or less to work, ten to twelve back. It makes me feel better about not exercising, and I'm not using gas, which makes me feel like I'm one-upping someone, somewhere. Now that my lease is up in my apartment, I am couch surfing for about a week before completely removing any trace of myself from this area. Said couch is definitely farther away, however, and I may not be able to ride my bike to work. The hills are like a slow, painful death in the 90 degree heat. So I decided to go to Parking Services to get a permit. The following is, as best as I can remember, the conversation I had with the woman at the desk.

Me: "Hi, I need to get a parking permit for these lots. I will be working here for the next two weeks and so I need to be able to park there."

Woman: "Ok, well, are you already in our system as an employee?"

Me: "Yes. I've been here since the beginning of summer."

Woman:"And you haven't had a parking permit so far?"

Me:"No, I usually ride my bike, but I am moving, so I need one now."

Woman:"Oh. Well, a visitor's permit is going to cost you four dollars a day, so twenty dollars for the next two weeks."

note: do the math. 4 x 10 (we're talking weekdays here) = ?

Me: ". . . Isn't there an employee permit that I should be getting that costs less?"

Woman:"Well, yes, there is. It's two dollars per pay period and it's deducted from your paycheck. When you are done with it, you can turn it in and we'll stop taking out the payment."

Me:"So, I should just get the employee one, since I work for the University and it's cheaper, right?"

Woman:"Well, we all have to pay to park."

Me:"Yes, I know. I'll take the two dollar permit instead of the twenty dollar visitor pass."

Probably they will start trying to charge people 25 cents to park their bikes in the racks. Ridiculous.


p.s. welcome to my blog. I write about stuff. enjoy.