Archive for the 'Commuting' Category

Good Morning Bike People

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

So I’ve been riding two wheels to work for the last three plus years, but until recently I’ve been commuting on a Vespa scooter.   We gave up our second car at about that time, and I’ve been traveling up and down Mass Ave on the Vespa eleven and a half months out of the year.   It’s been wonderful.  The amount of money we’ve saved on gas, insurance, parking tickets and everything else has been crazy.  In riding during this time I’ve noticed that there is a bond, a connection between motorcycle riders that many will acknowledge when passing each other on the street.   The “Motorcycle Wave” is a special connection between people who share a common bond and experience, and it’s that bond folks on bikes should acknowledge as well, which brings me to the point of this post.

Yesterday I arrived at a huge intersection on my daily commute and I was the third cyclist at the light, and when I rolled up I said in a loud and happy voice “Good Morning Bike People!”   It was sunny and biker number 2 looked at me and gleefully returned my welcome with a pleasant “Good Morning …” at the same time when biker number 1, turned and looked at me like I was off my rocker.  Indeed someone was wound a little tight in his kit and all I could think of was … man, if you are that crabby this early in the morning, why the hell didn’t you take the car?

So … GOOD MORNING BIKE PEOPLE … enjoy the day and be careful out there.

JI