Wherein certain longstanding complaints are longstanding [bicycling]

[rebeccmeister]

There have been some rather blunt reminders recently as to why I've backed off on involvement with certain forms of bike advocacy in the area.

For one example, today was supposed to be Bike to Work Day, except it's scheduled as a Press Op, and boy do I ever feel like a Token whenever I've tried to show up for it. It starts at 8:30 am, when many people need to already be at work, and it involves traveling on a dusted-off bike within a fleet of Bike Police some short distance over to a podium where some words can get said about things but little actually ever changes on the ground.

And due to the rainy forecast, it got postponed to next Friday anyway.

Yes, I biked to work, like I do every day. I am celebrating with a cup of tea at my desk.

For a second example, there are some people in this area who are working pretty hard to forge broader connections and community among bicyclists. Then there are people who refuse to do anything other than the very particular way they've determined is the Only Way things can get done. You can make a wild guess about the primary demographic that behaves in that manner, and your guess is very likely correct, because this has been a longstanding Known Issue within cycling advocacy, and was in fact part of the reason why our Arizona advocacy organization got started - there was an opportunity to create something more inclusive, and people did.

There are times when it sucks to live in a place and have to think, things could be so much better here, but this obstinacy is getting in the way.

But on the other hand, the bike valet is a thing I can do and help out with. So I'll keep doing that.

Comments

[ivy]

Just because it's longstanding doesn't make it any less annoying, much of the time. Sympathies!

[rebeccmeister]

Hahaha, truth! And, thank you. There are other good signs in other pockets of the local bicycling community, thankfully. I just need to stick the annoying parts back in quarantine!