Today is Bike to Work Day but since I need to carry an abundance of tools and materials to a job, my bike will stay on the rack until I get home. Fortunately, the Denver metro area is a great place to ride a bike, be it to work or otherwise. There are cyclists everywhere and at all times of the day.

I took a break (for the most part) from riding for twelve years when our boys were in Middle and High school. I believed it was important to be available to them for that very critical time in their lives. So four years ago I remounted my Miyata 512 and started riding again and it hurt. But while I was out riding I noticed something that I didn’t recognize and could not notice from a vehicle. In the twelve years of my Sabbatical, cyclists’ attitudes changed,toward other cyclists and towards everyone. There was no hand waving or acknowledging of fellow riders. There ceased to be a word of encouragement as riders passed other riders. Cyclists were now riding two, three or even four abreast even when the road sign “said” to ride single file and in the process were blocking the traffic behind them. Traffic laws were broken. It seemed that cyclists had become rude and almost entitled. To what I’m not sure.

Last evening, I went for a ride to the west to a different part of the city. I saw fourteen different riders (yes I counted) and only two of them waved back. As I was in the last three miles of the ride, I was passed by a young man on a really nice road bike. He did not say, “on your left”, did not say a word of encouragement to a slower rider, did not even tell me that I should just “give it up”. He just rode by me. Since I was on my mountain bike i knew that I could keep up with him but I tried anyway. After I saw him ride through several stop signs and the red light on Colfax, I gave up and let him go.

Unfortunately, he represents the cycling world to motorists and I for one, do not appreciate that. The only answers that I have to continue to wave and encourage others. And to follow the same vehicle laws that motorists have to follow since under the law, bicycles are considered vehicles.

Be safe and courteous on “Ride to Work Day”

 

Thanks for perusing,

 

Gary