May 27 to June 2 is Ride your Bike to Work Week. I am sure it will no doubt be followed by Liniment and Plaster Cast Week in our province.
The slogan for the this week is “Ditch Your Car and Ride a Bike to Work.” I’m not sure I would have chosen a slogan with the words ditch, car and bike all in the same sentence.
The very thought of putting air in my bike tires and riding down 200 Street brings fear to my heart. Even surrounded by the steel enclosure of my pick-up, I have had some close encounters and I’m not so sure elbow pads and a helmet will give either confidence or protection. City streets are not good bicycle routes.
Of course there is the environmental and economical arguments that are supposed to make cycling attractive. With zero emissions, cyclists are definitely sending a message and saving the planet. But an idling fire truck, police car and ambulance stopped to assist the poor bike rider lying on the shoulder of the road are more than offsetting his attempt at reducing carbon emissions.
With the price of gasoline approaching $1.50 per litre, one might just consider a bike ride once in awhile. However looking at the prices of today’s bikes, helmets, and other gear, are you really saving all that money?
Of course we cannot disregard the social side of bike riding and the lack of acceptance in North America. In other lands, the family has many bicycles and cycling is recognized as a way of life. Not so much here.
For example, one morning during Bike Week, announce to your children, “OK kids, strap on your back packs and helmets, get your bikes and Mom and I are going to ride to school with you.” I’ll bet you’ve never seen that look on their faces before.
Riding to work has its challenges as well. You should prepare your boss well in advance that you might be in by noon and have to leave around four so you’re not riding home in the dark. Also, riding to work in a business suit will encourage folks to question, “I wonder how long that poor bugger lost his licence for? Probably an impaired charge.” Why else would someone be riding a bike?
The clothes the cyclist is wearing are a dead giveaway. If he is wearing a business suit and an ill-fitting helmet with his tie streaming behind like the Red Baron, he is a novice biker trying out Bike Week. If he is wearing a co-ordinated Spandex cycling suit with an aerodynamic lid, he is an avid biker.
The big difference is noticed if you honk at them coming from behind. The novice will swerve into the gravel, wobble until he gets his foot down and will try desperately to maintain his balance. The Lance Armstrong type will signal his acknowledgement of your horn with the universal one finger cyclist salute, accelerate, and leave you far behind.
The organizers have prepared both physical bike maps and apps for your cell phones that show the best ways to get around. Riding and texting, what could go wrong?
Remember those famous last words, “Look Ma, no hands.”
Make sure they know you’re there. Handlebar streamers, a bell, a horn and baseball cards in the spokes are the best safety devices. At least that’s what McGregor says.
