Self-Righteous Bikerspeak

[rebeccmeister]

Okay, I just read this in the stranger. While folks up in Seattle might think they have it rough, I must point out that Seattle's pretty darn bike-friendly compared to my experiences in Boston and in Tempe. In Boston, I was frequently harassed by drivers because I rode on the streets. In Tempe, as I believe I've mentioned recently, I've reached the point where I won't bike on major city streets because the speed limit is usually 45 miles per hour, fast enough to seriously hurt me if a car ran into me.

But I just recently discovered a group called Critical Mass Phoenix that's organizing monthly rides to promote bike transportation. I might just go along for a ride tomorrow. We shall see.

Stupid car culture.

Comments

[boolean263.livejournal.com]

Critical Mass is fairly popular up here, too. When I first started my job about half my co-workers would cycle to work, and they got together and moved one's entire belongings from one apartment to another using nothing but bikes, Greenspeed trikes and bike trailers. They'd go out for Critical Mass every month. I don't know how much of an effect they've had on Ottawa as a cylist-friendly city, because I never hear about it except from one of them.

They've even formed their own independent cyclist appreciation club, called Human-Powered Vehicle Operators of Ottawa. You can see plans for the bike trailer on that site.

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

That group sounds really cool! Some of those human-powered vehicles look awesome. The other day I saw a grownup's trike on campus that had a little sunshade set up--something that could be really handy out here in the blazing desert sun.

I tried to go to the monthly Critical Mass bike ride yesterday, but I think I showed up a little bit too late. Hopefully I'll make it there on time next month...

The biker culture here is strange--there are a lot of bikers, but I think that most of them are mountain bikers, not commuting bikers, and they all tend to sport nice jerseys and such. I'm a bit more laid-back than all that, personally...

FUCKING CARS!!!

[jwatriss.livejournal.com]

I think bike shops should sell caltrops.

Re: FUCKING CARS!!!

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

THEN maybe the cars would listen to us!

Re: FUCKING CARS!!!

[jwatriss.livejournal.com]

You celarly don't know me all that well anymore :)

I don't really care about the "listening to us," I'm just all about the mayhem. Then again, I want to see a chicken truck get crashed into by a train, so go figure.