On Twitter, BikePortlander Kyle Rohr (@antipex) composed a work of poetry to accompany his picture of the new biketown bikes. PBOT called it “a magical poem for Bike Share Eve”. Thanks for letting us share, Kyle.
https://twitter.com/antipex/status/755265054908436481
T’was the night before bike share, when all through the city,
Not an automobile was stirring, not even for pity;
The orange bikes were locked to the bike racks with care,
In hopes that #BIKETOWNpdx soon would be there;
The members were wearing founding t-shirts in bed,
While visions of sneaker bikes whizzed through their heads;
And @Bob_Gunderson in his jammies, with a face so pale,
His eyes starting to tear as he began to wail;
When out on the street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Out to the street I flew like a flash,
Tore through the crosswalk as I threw up my hands.
The streetlights shining on the newly-locked bikes,
Gave a lustre of orange to such a beautiful sight.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But @leahtreat and eight @PBOTinfo engineers,
With a ribbon in one hand and scissors to spare,
I knew in a moment it must be bike share!
That’s awesome! Well done Mr. Poet!
Look under the tree, I brought you 1,000 presents.
Nike: A company through nearly it’s entire history has sought to exploit workers anywhere it can in the world. Now we have their ugly orange everywhere reminding us of that fact.
and Social Bicycles are made in China, so you get a sort of double damage by using biketown… even if the system was convenient for me I don’t know if I could morally support it…
I understand your argument. However, if one is to take that positional hard line, one is virtually paralyzed in our American society. It can be done, but it will require significant effort to eliminate all companies, governments and organizations that have committed such atrocities from our economic and social consumption.
I do not say this to defend such actions, but I think it is worth bringing up as a counterpoint. I strongly believe bike share will bring positive change to our city.
And the device you used to post this comment was made where?
I post all my comments via carrier pigeon.
Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
😀 😀 😀
Are you denying the abysmal working conditions and pay of the workers in Nike factories? Out of sight, our of mind makes it okay?
it’s PBOT orange, BTW.
TriMet is also orange.
To paraphrase a roadie weight-weenie adage: Oregon, money, ethics, pick any two.
Still, I hope it works by any definition of success.