There was a crispness hanging in the air by morning. It had texture and taste; it gave the world a lens of clarity. Like the couple who leaves the party unannounced, summer had given way without a word of warning. There was hope that the rainy weekend would clear into warmth, laughter over ice cream. Instead, the shift of the wind brought long sleeves and scarves. Autumn had slipped over the hills, offering one last chance to reflect before winter would push all thoughts of the beach into the part of the brain that remembers and forgets.

They were strangers. They have always been strangers. No real history except for the occasional conversation at the cafe where she once worked. He’d never offered his name and she hadn’t asked. Theirs was a very simple relationship: anonymous and friendly. So why did he jump when he saw her on the bus? She sat, busily minding her phone. He didn’t stare. Months had gone by without a thought, but sitting this close, time held still. The bus slowed and she shifted to stand, her eyes bumping into his in the crowd. Their brief conversation was friendly and anonymous. She was gone and they were still strangers.

It seems as if the Greater Wellington Regional Council is sponsoring a brief survey on transporting bikes on trains. It’s only open for comment until April 10th, so get in there quickly if it applies to you.

While you’re there, it’s worth having a look at GWRC‘s regional travel plans programme. It seems as if there’s even support from the regional council to develop workplace travel plans, which is where I see the greatest benefit. If car-pooling is your thing and there’s nothing available within your company, have a look at carshare.co.nz. Ideally, we can put an end to the dominance of Single-Headed Cars, whether it’s adding a person or subtracting a car.