I saw this lady this morning on my way to work, and again while waiting for the bus.
She's one of the city's so-called "Bees" - Civilian volunteers. They're kind of a cross between janitors and neighborhood watch. Anyhow, both times I saw her, she was riding in the street without a helmet and listening to her headphones. If she gets in a wreck (likely since she can't hear traffic), we'll just say she won't be doing any long division. Of course, for all I know, she's not doing any long division now. This kind of behavior is foolhardy and cavalier at best.
Next, my new lock. Today, I swung by the bike shop and rummaged through their trash can for the perfect inner tube. I found a big, fat inner tube with a rectangle patch on it and I knew that was the one. This thing is dripping with MacGyver-rigged ghetto juice. Just the way I like it.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Miscellany
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5 comments:
You know, when dealing with helmentless riders sometime a little "gentle intervention" works wonders.
I usually roll up and point out the risks. I even pass on the anicidote of a guy I went to school with who was one of the most talented road riders I ever knew. He was a Cat III rider and one day he was riding without his helmet on is way to meet up with a friend. He was barely riding 15 MPH when he hit a patch of sand. He fell and hit his head resulting in right side paralysis. Over time (and with the grace of God) he recovered enough to walk and talk; however, he never rode a bike again.
You may already know I'm not an advocate of helmets.
I wear one, but when I see someone without I think nothing of it.
Also on the local MUP, usually riding to the market, I don't wear one. Like the song says, sometimes you do and sometimes it's no big deal.
For what it's worth, the headphones are what really did me in.
While I'm not one to tell people what they can and can't do, not wearing a helmet seems like such an unnecessary risk to me. Wearing headphones in traffic? That ranks up there with crotch-rocket riders doing wheelies down the highway. It's annoying on the MUP. Completely asinine on the road.
Actually the Bumble Bees are paid employees of the Downtown Council. The businesses and residents there have a little improvement district setup where they tax themselves to pay for extra security, cleaning, etc.
Main Street in Midtown just added a similar thing, only with red and black uniforms. Maybe they should be called the Hornets.
I'm with you, I see no reason *not* to wear a helmet. It's just not worth the risk. And seeing people riding with headphones always baffles me. Darwin at work, I suppose.
Your ghetto-rigged bike lock rocks. I'm a big fan.
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