As a biker, you are not a pedestrian nor are you a true vehicle. At least I think that is what we like to think as bikers so that we can get away with anything and go just about anywhere. We ride on sidewalks along with dogs and their owners, wedge ourselves between buses and cars and cruise over greenways. There seems to be a common belief or rather a common denial among us that we always have the right of way.
Two days ago, a man looked at me shaking his head. I thought, what is your problem buddy? Then I realised, I had just gone straight through a cross walk on the red light. I felt like crap. No time to apologise, since I had already sped past. A friend of mine confirmed this trend by telling me she was almost hit by one of us two-wheeled maniacs while walking down the sidewalk.
Have city bikers become bullies of the streets and sidewalks? Is it possible that the reason that people stay clear of the bike lane is out of fear of us Biker Bullies?
This morning, it became more evident than ever. As I turned the corner, I realised that I was leading, no kidding, in "V" formation, a flock of mad bikers. We spread out, almost galloping like a band of battling horsemen straight from the middle-ages, taking up the entire street, blocking traffic from getting on the bridge. This was not the type of power I wanted to feel on my bike. Had we gotten so ballsy as to take on the city buses? It appeared so. For one second, Seville was our Kingdom, The Majestic Kingdom of the Bikers that said "Bring-Bring".
We all learned in grade school that bullies do not stick together. The point of being a bully is to ultimately rule the weak. So even though in this moment, we had formed this V for victory against the city bus, everyone wanted that "V" for themselves. The "V" quickly disintegrated and transformed into a multitudes of I's. The I´s began to whiz by, leaving me to fend for myself amongst the fumes of the now passing bus.
This has become the city's cyclers' epitome for at least the last month. I no longer dread hitting pedestrians or cars hitting me. Now I fear that other bikers, travelling at top speeds on sidewalks and in the lanes, will meet me face to face, and challenge me to a joust.
I am ready, you mad wheeled knights. I am prepared to defend biker chivalry and those poor peasant pedestrians that I once cursed. I have my bike chain ready to knock you off your high bike.
It is my hope that one day Seville will be the The Majestic Kingdom of the Bikers that say "Bring-Bring" excuse me.
Two days ago, a man looked at me shaking his head. I thought, what is your problem buddy? Then I realised, I had just gone straight through a cross walk on the red light. I felt like crap. No time to apologise, since I had already sped past. A friend of mine confirmed this trend by telling me she was almost hit by one of us two-wheeled maniacs while walking down the sidewalk.
Have city bikers become bullies of the streets and sidewalks? Is it possible that the reason that people stay clear of the bike lane is out of fear of us Biker Bullies?
This morning, it became more evident than ever. As I turned the corner, I realised that I was leading, no kidding, in "V" formation, a flock of mad bikers. We spread out, almost galloping like a band of battling horsemen straight from the middle-ages, taking up the entire street, blocking traffic from getting on the bridge. This was not the type of power I wanted to feel on my bike. Had we gotten so ballsy as to take on the city buses? It appeared so. For one second, Seville was our Kingdom, The Majestic Kingdom of the Bikers that said "Bring-Bring".
We all learned in grade school that bullies do not stick together. The point of being a bully is to ultimately rule the weak. So even though in this moment, we had formed this V for victory against the city bus, everyone wanted that "V" for themselves. The "V" quickly disintegrated and transformed into a multitudes of I's. The I´s began to whiz by, leaving me to fend for myself amongst the fumes of the now passing bus.
This has become the city's cyclers' epitome for at least the last month. I no longer dread hitting pedestrians or cars hitting me. Now I fear that other bikers, travelling at top speeds on sidewalks and in the lanes, will meet me face to face, and challenge me to a joust.
I am ready, you mad wheeled knights. I am prepared to defend biker chivalry and those poor peasant pedestrians that I once cursed. I have my bike chain ready to knock you off your high bike.
It is my hope that one day Seville will be the The Majestic Kingdom of the Bikers that say "Bring-Bring" excuse me.
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