Less than useful

The Bixi programme launched in Toronto this Spring. The $95/year membership was quite tempting as I lived within the station boundaries. For whatever reason, I waffled about signing up. I thought it would be insanely convenient for going out, but I already owned a couple of bicycles that I rode every day, and there was no station at Dupont St. where I worked. The furthest they reached was Bloor.

Groupon had a 50% off sale six weeks ago, and at that price it was a no-brainer.

I thought it would be convenient, and nice-t0-have, but instead I became completely enamored and looking for excuses to use it. I loved how little hassle it was. I could wear long pants and the chain-cover protects them. No maintenance fuss.

I have had a few minor glitches though. A few bikes, early on especially, seemed to have poorly tuned shifters. It was hard to keep the bike in the top gear. Actually, the first time I rode one I thought it was broken because the top gear was so effortless. Turns out they’re just not designed to go very fast. Fair enough.

Only once have I encountered a completely full stand while going out; luckily I was aware of an emptier one nearby. I got the very last spot outside the Greyhound station a couple of nights ago:

Bixis at night.

What I didn’t anticipate however was that I would end up commuting with these every single day. I mentioned the stations only reaching Bloor and my office being at Dupont. Turns out I like biking to Bloor and walking the rest of the way. It’s not that far, only 15 minutes for an average walker. Instead of leaving home at the very last possible moment and arriving at work as a sweaty mess, I take a bit more time in the morning and have a relaxed slow Bixi ride to Bloor, and then a stroll to my office while listening to the podcast de jour.

I also feel that, insofar as my daily commute is concerned, the Bixi is just better exercise since it’s a slower, heavier bike over a similar distance.

Lit

Another great thing is that currently it’s already pitch black when I leave work at 5:00. My hybrid commuter has lights, but my fancy CX bike which I normally use, does not. No trouble with Bixi: they’re ultra-reflective, and have a dynamo in them to power bright flashy LED lights in the front and back whenever the wheel turns.

Overall, I think at the very least, this will make for an awesome winter commuter. They’ll be open every day it’s not “dangerous” according to their authority, and it saves me from wrecking my own bikes with road salt.

Currently my girlfriend provides the post-dated cheques for the landlord. The landlord put the cheques into an account that is supposed to deposit them on the dates they’re post-dated for. Both use BMO.

Mysteriously this month’s cheque didn’t seem to get deposited. Upon investigation, the landlord noticed that the funds actually came through October 19th, and my girlfriend discovered the funds left her account October 11. For November 1st’s rent.

So my girlfriend called the bank to complain and was told:

1. the landlord should complain because he’s paying a fee for that service

2. cheques are technically valid SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR POST-DATES

This is so, pardon my French, completely fucked up, on so many levels. What the hell is the point and meaning of post-dating a cheque? Should everyone now be post-dating their cheques six months behind the intended date?

This sounds like a policy solely designed to suck NSF fees out of clients. I wonder what the legality of it is.