[*BCM*] Boston Bikers

[Ian Westcott]

I'm gonna go with B. The same is true on the sidewalk or on the T.  
Bostonians simply do not like to talk to each other, unless it's  
about the Red Sox or being drunk.

   -Ian

On Aug 17, 2006, at 11:57 AM, TSmith4918 at aol.com wrote:

> Just some rambling:
>
> So, someone splain to me the following about Boston bikers;  why is  
> it so dang hard to get a friendly response, a nod, wave, or  
> acknowledgement of our fellow bikers in the area?...could it be:
>
> A.  FEAR: People are too preoccupied avoiding becoming hood  
> ornaments that they are oblivious to other bikers.
>
> B.  CULTURE: People in this area never look you in the eye even  
> when walking to driving...why should biking be any different?  
> c'mon,  It's not like we're in santa monica or anything:  this is  
> serious!
>
> C.  CLASS:  Unless you're wearing the latest in lycra/spandex day- 
> glo clingy fashion (personally I've gravitated to cotton, yeah, I  
> know, sweat and all) why should they waste their time on a  
> recreational biker.
>
> D.  SNOBBERY:  ok, so my bike is 20 years old with cracked fenders  
> and dirty rims (comes from commuting 12 months out of the year),  
> does this make anyone unworthy of a nod?
>
> E.  AGEISM:  ok, so I am almost 50, it's not like I am hitting on  
> anyone from being friendly, especially if we're whizzing past each  
> other at a cumulative 30 miles an hours.
>
> F.  LACK OF GOOD BREEDING:  don't need to say much on this.
>
> G.  URBAN/SUBURBAN CLASH:  I do bike thru Chestnut Hill to get to  
> work...do I look to urban-scary-like? c'mon I'm almost 50 (see E)!  
> and I wear baggy clothes (see C)...
>
> H.  THE MYTH OF BIKER UNITY:  maybe I am expecting too much, rather  
> than see the bikers I encounter as brothers and sisters in the  
> struggle for liberation from petroleum products, maybe we're just  
> individualists doing our own thang with little in common.  Haven't  
> we all felt a little twinge of "hmm, I know I'm probably just a  
> little faster than that biker up the road..."?
>
> I.  NO REASON AT ALL:  that's just the way it is.
>
> It's not that hard to acknowledge each other:  critical mass does a  
> great job once a month;  here's hoping for a little more nods and  
> waves out on the roadway.  It's a good way to recognize what we're  
> doing as a biking community for fun and for meaning.
>
> Old guy.
>
>
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