Becky Jo’s Carfree Life: Ode to Zen Bike Guy
Posted by Becky Jo (Columnist) on December 26th, 2019 at 9:59 am
Foster Night Ride photo by Krishna Muirhead
Now that we’re acquainted, my first and biggest question is:
“How are you not constantly having a heart attack?”
I know some of you are totally chill. I see you. I have this amalgamation of chill cyclists in my head, based heavily on a few in particular. One looks more like he’s hovering along, and there just happens to be a bike under him. You know the guy. No helmet, no hands on the handlebars, not even aware of the potholes, wearing all black sometimes with a plaid flannel variation, and certainly unconcerned with vehicles. He’s glorious. Sometimes he’s female. She has the cutest little basket in front of a big heavy cruiser, wearing a dress and sandals, and without any effort whatsoever is passing me up a hill. Sometimes it seems like folks of all kinds are passing me and not at all having the same level of stroke-inducing-crazy-car-magnet-luck I’m having.
Be honest with me, okay? Is there some law of diminished returns on wearing reflectors, all the lights, Day-Glo green and pink, and two rolls of reflective tape? Is there a point at which it starts being more like a flame-to-a-moth scenario? I know it happens with emergency vehicle lights and traffic, so you can tell me. I’ll believe you.
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Maybe all of you really aren’t chill and secretly you’re covering up that little pulsing vein with your adorable fresh-cut bangs.
To remain chill back when I used to car-commute from Reed to Hillsboro, I’d listen to Audible. Let me tell you, Jo Nesbo during winter on the Sunset Highway crawling along in winter is extra creepy. Two problems with that. My car had airbags, and I can’t bike with earbuds. I know, I see some of you with your speakers and that’s cool, but I’m barely functioning here as it is, right? I’m not ready for speakers.
Maybe I’m just preaching to the converted. Maybe all of you really aren’t chill and secretly you’re covering up that little pulsing vein with your adorable fresh-cut bangs.
Granted, I don’t have a very chill personality. It may shock you to know I’m pretty “Ready, Fire, Aim.” I like to jump in with both feet, and when someone nearly kills my daughter and me on our bikes, I tend to release a tirade of expletives and epithets that would make sailors blush.
So, please tell me, oh Zen Bike Guy, how can I be more like you, if only while biking?
Photo courtesy of Krishna Muirhead, Zen Bike Guy, old friend and bike mentor, IG @ilefteye
— Becky Jo, @BeckyJoPDX
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I remind myself that when I yell, I don’t really yell at other people, I yell to hear myself, and to reinforce my own anger. Neither method of yelling ends up being a productive conversation.
RecommendedIt has taken me years to finally approach a near zen state. I think a big chunk of it is reminding myself that I definitely still prefer biking, and my reasons are generally unassailable. For trips under 3 miles it is almost a 100% guarantee I will be faster door-to-door by bike. My odds of being caught in traffic and being late is about 0%. My legs are hot. Beer tastes better when you arrive parched.
On the flip side, as said above, yelling rarely improves anything. I still communicate my disapproval of certain driver actions, but instead of shaking my fist at a red light runner, I instead look at the driver behind me, and give a disapproving shake of the a head, trying to convey “whoa, can you believe that guy. you’d never do that right?” I theorize that seeing a real life human express how something was scary to them will affect their future behavior.
RecommendedMost of us slow down as we get older. I know I’m much slower (and heavier) at 52 than I was 22. Definitely more cautious and hopefully wiser. And some days the arthritis kicks in, a reminder of all my injuries from my so-called youth. But I agree with SilkySlim, I still prefer cycling…
RecommendedYou all make me so relieved. Just the very fact that you care to comment and care to help – thank you. Thank you so very much. Having some semblance of camaraderie, albeit online, is lowering my overall panic. I read every single comment in addition to “catching up” on this world. I’m so very grateful.
RecommendedIn high school I was too young (stupid) to be scared, everything I did was zen because I was incapable of comprehending the consequences of anything. Even when my gf was hit while we were on a ride I don’t really think I understood how close of a call it really was.
I’m still zen-ish, but more from experience now, I guess. I’ve bike commuted for a over a decade and now I can sort of predict the most common patterns of driver stupidity. The right hook, the left cross, getting doored. Knowing good lines through these situations keeps me lower the amount of “omg I’m going to die” moments. I’m not a big fan of reflective stuff, honestly. A lot of dangerous scenarios don’t involve headlights on you until it’s too late. A good front light and a good rear light (flashing) is what I’ve settled on after a lot of variations. Regardless what you wear, bike like you’re invisible, because if you’re not shaped like a pick up truck drivers are blind to you for sure…
For me, the thing that keeps me going is that the more bikers we have on the road, the safer all of us are. We’re all part of the solution, no matter how zen or non-zen you are 🙂
RecommendedWhat Paul said. Plus these two thoughts:
-Multiple years of crash statistics for the town I ride in are shown at https://corvallisrightofway.com/causes-of-collisions/data/. People driving cars rarely, rarely hit bicycles and riders from behind. There are other causes of crashes, but taking the lane can prevent many of them and is eminently safe. There are steps to follow in order to get into the middle of the lane legally and safely, but they can be learned.
-I’m not responsible for the feelings of the drivers following me. Listening to the noises their vehicle makes-engine, horn, bell-might trigger something in me, but it doesn’t let me know definitively how they’re feeling. The honk might be because they think my butt is cute or because they’re tired of sitting in a tin box or something else. Not much I can change about that. I just need to take care for the safe and legal operation of my bicycle.
RecommendedJay, those stats are awesome! It’s so good to see – even the old PDX stats of what causes Ped/Auto wrecks. This is very handy. Thank you!
RecommendedThank you Paul. I am grateful for all of you that have paved the way, literally and figuratively, for me to even take this on. I truly feel that every day I go out. In my 20s I was a lot more fiery, so it’s probably best I’m starting in my mid-40s. (insert awkward grimace)
RecommendedUpload and train your mind to autoexecute this mantra whatever novelty appears to happen
“I guess it doesn’t matter anyway”
RecommendedLOL! My oldest is double majoring down at PSU in CS and CE – I’ll have him write that up for me! 😀
RecommendedI have been biking in traffic since I was 11 (and decades before there was anything like bike lanes). I know cars are right close by and that in theory a false move or bit of in attention could kill me, but the statistics seem to be on my side: Zero collisions with moving vehicles in 37 years.
RecommendedTake quiet streets. Prefer greenways, but bike lanes are OK if you’re in a hurry. Don’t be in a hurry. You’re on a bike, enjoy it.
Bike in the middle (or left side) of the lane. You’re easy to see when you’re directly in front of people. If you’re riding in the door and debris zone then you’ll blend into the scenery on the side and not be seen as an obstacle in the road. You’re legally allowed to take the entire width of the lane, so don’t feel bad.
Put your earbuds in and hear what you want. It helps take the pressure off of hearing impatient drivers behind you. Deaf people do just fine. Hearing is a not a safety requirement.
Dress the way you want. Aren’t you already tired of wardrobe shaming? My first bike jacket was a bright yellow windbreaker, my second a Showers Pass black jacket with reflective accents, and now I just wear whatever I’m wearing (usually a black or brown jacket). If it’s raining I have a rain cape that’s reflective.
I value bike reflectivity. I prefer reflective sidewall tires, and I have stock reflectors on my pedals, both wheels, steering tube, and rear fender. My regular bike has dynamo lights, otherwise I often use only a front light.
You could take all the precautions and still get hit. The only time I was ever hit was early morning before sunset when it was still dark. I had full reflectors, full lights, wrapped in xmas lights, with a spinning neon wheel light. Driver was pulling out from a side street, stopped at the stop sign, looked, then pulled out right into me and T-boned me. They said they had no idea how they didn’t see me. Don’t worry too much about being hit with a car. Always assume that you will, so that you’ll have a last minute option in case a driver really doesn’t see you.
I don’t like letting a driver know I see them. I like them to assume I’m oblivious and that they need to take the legal needed care. If they know you see them then they’ll try to bully you and take your right-of-way.
Get a video camera. I always have mine, and they help motorists behave, even when the battery is dead. And evidence always helps for that time it goes over the line dangerous and you need to use ORS 153.058 to write a citizen-issued citation. I found a cheap one that I can hook to my portable USB battery and it will record for hours.
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tldr: ride on quiet streets in the middle of the lane wearing whatever you want while listening to your choice of noise and not caring about the insecurities of motor vehicle drivers.
RecommendedThis EXACT thing happened to me and my daughter (we ride tandem still)! The oncoming car actually stopped to let me take my left after I signaled left. As I was about to go left I could see the look of horror on the oncoming drivers face which caused me to pause when someone passed me on my left. This whole post was partly inspired by that incident. It was on a speedbump street (N Woolsey), and it happened to be a new neighbor, who went a whole 3 houses down and parked. I waited for him to get out of his car and I’m pretty sure everything that came out of my mouth made him pee his pants. His only responses were, “I didn’t see you signal” and “you really shouldn’t swear so much” – not the smartest response to an angry mama bear.
The following week I got my first “right hook” and yeah… have to admit, have been thinking about getting a camera mounted on my helmet. So far this venture hasn’t really saved any money… lol.
On a more direct to you note, thank you. You have no idea how much I needed to read all of that and appreciate your time and consideration. And as a seamstress/designer: absofuckinlutely. 😉
RecommendedI commute in suburban New Jersey on windy roads that do not have any special accommodations for cyclists. Yet, I frequently feel that I have a hard time relating to some of the impressions and experiences that other cyclists talk about. I cannot think of single time when I had a “near death experience” on my bike. I generally find that I actually have much fewer issues with drivers when I bike than when I drive. It seems that no matter how courteously and defensively one drives, upsetting incidents still happen. When I am biking, people tend to be more accommodating. For example, if I signal that I wish to turn left, oncoming drivers frequently stop, in some cases may be even a bit too abruptly. At the same time, I do not dive in front of drivers even if I know that I could safely get out of the way because I do not want to startle people. I always have my rear blinky on—day or night—because I have noticed how helpful that is when I am driving a car. But I don’t wear a helmet because it is annoying and there is not much evidence that it does much good.
For sure, I have learned how to ride defensively over the years. For example, if I am on an arterial road and there are drivers approaching from the right, I try to make sure that they are going to stop at the stop sign before proceeding through the intersection. I always signal all of my turns. At stop signs and red lights, I come to a full stop unless there really is no one else anywhere around.
For example, I do not completely understand that incident where somebody passed you on the left as you were attempting to make a left. The driver may not have been paying as much attention as he should have, but I would always look back to make sure that people saw me before I make a left on my bike. Also, if you were about to make a left, weren’t you on the left hand-side of your lane?
Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am huge proponent of stricter enforcement of traffic laws and a huge critic of our current blasé attitudes to dangerous behaviors on the roads. Nonetheless, in the United States I believe that with defensive riding techniques, a cyclist does not have to feel that there are near death experiences to be had on the roads on a regular basis. Just like riding a motorcycle takes different skills from driving a car, riding a bicycle is different from driving. You have to interact differently, you have to make turns differently, you have to think about intersections differently, and so forth.
Also, there is no one best way to ride on American roads. Sometimes being a vehicular cylists works best, but other times it can make more sense to stay in the background or to ride on the sidewalk, especially if you are less experienced cyclist. Same thing with “taking the lane.” This may make sense in some instances, but in most cases it is better to ride as far to the right that allows you to maintain one consistent, predictable path down the road.
Let’s say you wish to make a left turn at a busy signalized intersection. If you are a confident biker, getting into the left turning lane and making a left like a driver would could be an option. But for most cyclists it probably makes more sense to stay to the right, ride straight through the intersection, and them make a left. Another option is to cross like a pedestrian would. Or, especially if there are parking lots around the intersection, you could cross over to the other side of the road whenever there is no traffic, cut through the parking lot, and then cross the road that you want to turn onto, again when there is not traffic. There is no one right or wrong answer; it depends on the specifics of the intersection.
Just as there are classes on how to ride a motorcycle, I think there should be classes on how to ride a biccyle in traffic. I feel that I could teach a beginner some very useful skills in just a few sessions. If you are constantly having issues with drivers, then I do believe that you need to improve your riding skills.
RecommendedAhh Grasshopper, zen wisdom comes with total awareness. Pay attention, know your event horizon and know that, like a rabbit (read Watership Down) even though you are clever and agile your environment is dense with killers. I still go sort of crazy in a real close call but NEVER touch the offending car. People carry guns.
RecommendedIt took me a long time to become mostly inured to the motor vehicle madness and I never really got used to it. The facts are:
-The average American is at more risk of injury per mile biking than driving. Both driving and biking in Portland are safer than average, so I suspect this is also true in Portland.
-Unless you were reliably getting 30 mins of exercise every day pre biking, the health benefits of biking far outweigh the additional danger.
So I always tried to tell myself that the benefits of being healthy (and my kids having a healthy parent) outweighed the cost. Plus there is the whole climate change thing.
I like side visibility; there is a British company selling dual side blinkies that I recommend. I agree with the above that visibility on the bike is the most convenient.
https://brightside.bike/
If you someday get an e-bike, I found my experience of unexpected dangerous motor vehicle behavior to decrease dramatically once I started mostly e-biking in the middle of the right lane on 4-lane roads. People driving have a full lane to pass you in, don’t right hook you, and don’t pull out unexpectedly from side streets. The actual safety is questionable given more cars around and higher speeds but I found the experience less jumpy than being stalked by cut-through traffic on greenways while on guard for side-street stop sign runners and waiting interminably at most intersections with major streets.
The threats and honking on big streets increase dramatically, though, if you bike slow.
In terms of how to actually be calm after a perceived near-death experience, I don’t know. Never figured out that one. A speaker did help in order to have good-mood music blaring.
Recommendedyou’re right, you’re right, I know you’re right (read like Carrie Fisher in When Harry Met Sally.) I am getting there, and I so appreciate the commiseration and advice. I have been more brazen in taking the lane. There’s another mother who bike commutes to the same elementary school, and she’s so chill – but she also always gives right of way… and while I don’t know her, and I DO respect and adore her… I just can’t bike like that. I wasn’t a dick as a driver, and I’m not of the personality to let others be. (and I’m aware those could be my famous last words… )
Ebikes are so intriguing. I truly hope they take off more. I may consider one way down the line as maybe finances let up, but I feel like maybe I should learn as a traditional cyclist first? On the other hand, I do like that ebikes allow for more kinds of cyclists. Not everyone is able-bodied enough to jump on a bike and bomb across town – or like my friend in Ballard, the hills are too crazy for her and her kid.
I just read NYC Mayor de Blasio’s rant on ebikes and am pretty miffed about it. That’s just not right. I feel like, of all cities, they should be setting a precedent. I’ve been there. They need it.
RecommendedOn many roads, taking the lane is not a great idea. Assuming that you are riding well under the speed limit, if you are taking the lane, you are making it it unnecessarily difficult for motorists to pass you. If a motorist wishes to execute a safe and legal pass and maintain, say, three feet of separation between the cyclist and motor vehicle at all times, the arc that the motor vehicle has to travel does become much larger the further left you are riding. Maybe on greenways you are going close to the speed limit, or there wouldn’t be enough space to pass anyway. Or maybe on a four lane highway, the only legal and safe pass would be for the motorist to get into the left-hand lane. But on most suburban or larger roads this is not going to be the case.
Recommended“How are you not constantly having a heart attack?”
Mostly, it’s just time spent in the saddle. It just gets better and better.
RecommendedWhile I’m no where near the level of most here, I can feel this already. I am starting to feel that, “why didn’t I do this sooner” feeling, and knowing now I could never truly go back. It helps to hear it from you.
RecommendedI take something from riding motorcycles to heart: “Ride like you’re invisible”
But also being predictable helps. I have these rules I follow:
Recommended1. I really hate riding on sidewalks because people in cars aren’t expecting a fast-moving flesh and metal bullet to be there.
2. No music except for that inside my head.
3. Flashing rear-light at least during the day and solid lights at night (I carry a full backup set just in case).
4. Don’t ride on 82nd or MLK/Grand
Tony, RE #4… I find self-preservation makes me prefer greenways, but I have tried out bike lanes on Rosa Parks &, slightly more unnerving, Lombard. I’ve felt i should avoid MLK, but… there are bike lanes. I haven’t biked so far as 82nd yet, but that doesn’t sound appealing. I can’t help but be conflicted here… while I’d prefer to remain in one piece and don’t want to test the bike lane on a very busy hwy more than necessary, it seems counterproductive to wanting more driver awareness of bikes. I’m not even sure what I’m asking… it’s still this formulating bubble I can’t quite grasp. It seems like a big contradiction of bike lanes for us to use, but then don’t use them because they’re not safe enough. I’m still learning about PBOT and how it all works, so admittedly there may be answers I haven’t found yet.
Recommended1. Have a strong front and back light, make sure you have some side visibility either through reflective tire sidewalls, or spoke lights. The spoke lights are a great way to feel festive.
2. Ride defensively, assume people don’t see you. As importantly, ride predictably. By that I mean to try to ride in a relatively steady line and at a steady speed so cars know how to adjust their timing to you.
3. When a car passes you and looks like they may be slowing to make a turn, alway be ready to make a quick right-turn with them to avoid a t-bone, though you may still end skidding into them sideways.
4. If you’re riding next to a congested lane, and cars have stopped up ahead to leave a cross street clear, slow down and proceed cautiously, there is often a car about to ‘shoot the gap’ of those cars that have stopped. I also employ tactic ‘6″ while i slow, which is drift right or left to be more visible to car potentially crossing.
5. I generally do try to make eye contact and look people in the face. You can usually, though not always, see if a person really registers you or if they are ‘vacant staring’ past you.
6. If you are riding in a bike, or greenway, drift in the space depending on you are trying to be the most visible to. If you are riding in a R-side bike lane and are worried about people pulling out in front from cross streets, try to ride as left in the lane (near the cars) as possible so they are more able to see you. If you’re worried about someone you riding next to that might turn in front of you, drift a little further right so you’re less likely to be in their blind spot.
RecommendedWhen I first started riding for transportation in Portland, I was super not-Zen. I used to fill my pockets with gravel that I would fling at cars that cut me off. For example.
Over the years I developed a fondness for lower-traffic streets and scenic routes. I’ll ride miles out of my way to go through a cemetery, or up a path, or down a series of undeveloped alleys. This was really a scheduling challenge more than anything else. Once I’d removed the pressure of OMG IM LATE, I am much less troubled by traffic or anything else.
I still make eye contact & direct cars, e.g if the right of way is unclear. I do this with *very gentle but obvious* hand signals. Car drivers are like irritated cattle, they get confused and spook easily.
It was liberating to learn I’m unlikely to be struck from behind, and way more likely to run into a car door or get clipped by someone turning their car across my path. I have more control over things in front of me.
Lights, reflective gear, riding defensively, etc.…do what makes you feel safe, within reason. Personally I think most of that is sympathetic magic except for strong lights front and back. I prefer to imagine I’m invisible, and ride appropriately.
RecommendedYou actually made me laugh out loud. Thank you for that. In my 20s, I totally would have done the gravel thing. That is hilarious. I’m staring down 45 next week, so I’ll just giggle at the thought of it instead. Not as scrappy as I used to be.
The spooked and confused analogy is spot on. Def have taken on the “get there when I get there” mantra; will work on my sympathetic magic. Thanks again. That was awesome.
RecommendedAccording to what you were saying yourself, you have not had much experience riding a bike in traffic up until now. Riding a bike takes different skills and thinking capabilites from driving a car. Before you start throwing things at drivers, you may want to improve your skill level. I can’t help feeling that your attitude may be a bit of an issue here as well. For example, I just got home on my 11-mile commute in the pitch black in northern New Jersey, and I only had positive experiences with drivers.
I am also not completely sure what happened when you were trying to make a left, but a motorist passed you on the left at the same time. Obviously, I wasn’t there and didn’t see it happening, but it sounds like at the very least you were not exercising defensive riding. Further, I am not opposed to calling drivers out for negligent behavior (I have done it myself), but you should refrain from cursing and yelling. If you are going to confront someone, then inform someone clearly that their behavior was unsafe, illegal and unacceptable, but you should still behave like an adult, especially if you have children.
RecommendedDear Sir or Madam, from your two comments on my first post and your 3 comments here… I understand your concern and thank you for your time. As I run another very large international site and you keep referencing “American roads”, I’m thinking we are having an ESL misfire here, or perhaps a misunderstood cadence as text doesn’t have any inflection. I tend to write very tongue-in-cheek. A lot of this writing is to both thank the current population of cyclist that have worked so hard to make it so I can bike in my native home town, and to open up the door for other new people like myself. I prefer to have open and kind dialog. If you don’t agree with my approach, it is what it is. We shall part ways knowing we are different people.
RecommendedDoes screaming and cursing at random strangers in Portland part of your open and kind dialogue?
RecommendedI believe I said “American roads” one time. I am having a hard time comprehending your message. What is an ESL misfire? I think we should keep in mind that many people read this site, and we should be doing our best to be responsible advocates for saner transportation policies.
RecommendedI’m sorry you don’t like my writing style. I’m sure there’s more than one way to approach biking, but i guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Best to you.
RecommendedI also don’t appreciate your writing style, and your comments about “that guy” feel sexist to me. some of us have just been riding longer than others. I saw a person walk confidently across the crosswalk the other day, but it never would have occurred to me to ask them how they don’t have a heart attack just because they can cross the street. It seems like someone who is going to write articles for a bike blog might as well know what they are talking about. I’m tired of the “whoa is me!! cycling is so hard!!!” If you want to empower female cyclists or any cyclists for that matter, you might refrain from the stale “cute little basket” comments or , “adorable fresh cut bangs” -is this supposed to be an insult? I’d love to see some articles on family biking from someone with a confidence perspective that does not pander to the US vs THEM scary story that the media wants to portray. On another note, I wonder how much time you have spent writing the article, and then commenting on it ( only because I’d like you to be paid fairly for your time) Let’s do better.
RecommendedI’m really enjoying your writing style and sense of humor, and the hyperbole in that particular passage made me laugh out loud. I know that feeling! I’m learning how to mountain bike and am regularly humbled by young children who go flying off of jumps like it’s nothing. (Aw, C’MON! lol)
What helped me get into cycling was finding a group of novice women like myself to go on rides with. It was great to share experiences with other women who were just getting started, to have people that could relate to my many mishaps without being judgey and the reassurance that smart, capable people were working through the same problems that I was – a Community of Figuring it Out, if you will. It was very empowering. I feel that the way you’re sharing your honest experiences and obstacles here, you are providing that sort of (virtual) camaraderie to other folks who are just starting out. What a cool thing to get to do for people you may never meet.
As for riding with cars – I just assume everyone behind the wheel is drunk, sleepy, texting, putting on makeup, making themselves some cheese and crackers, or all of the above, and keep an eye on them accordingly 😉
RecommendedOne word: experience.
After you’ve seen enough of the same scenario play out, you learn to recognize what’s going to happen before it happens.
Other than that, I try (emphasize “try”) to keep the following things in mind:
Recommended1. You must babysit everyone. Pedestrians expect full right-of-way at all times (as they mostly should), which means they expect bicyclists to watch for them. Drivers expect full right-of-way at all times (which they shouldn’t), and expect bicyclists and pedestrians to watch out for them. You, as the bicyclist, are always expected to stay out of the way, even though you don’t always have to, legally speaking, and there are many times you can assert your right-of-way safely, usually to the consternation of drivers (so be prepared).
2. Wheels don’t lie. Turn signals lie; wheels don’t. Drivers imbue their vehicles with a “body language” that you will learn to read, but it starts with wheels. If wheels are moving, the car is moving. If wheels are angled, the car will turn, regardless of signal, etc.
3. Wheels also speak. Audibly. Listen for the sound of car wheels slowing behind you. If you hear it, it isn’t because the driver is being careful to pass you, it is because they are about to turn. Also, they don’t see you, or they think they can beat you to the corner and turn in front of you. Act accordingly.
4. If you think drivers aren’t going to look where you are, move to where they are looking. This generally means moving farther left, when safe. This is especially pertinent at driveways where drivers are looking for the tiniest of gaps to floor it into. All the reflective tape in the world will not move a driver’s head or eyeballs.
5. Keep in mind the Salmon and the Tuna. One day the Salmon comes up to the Tuna and says, “You’re always in salt water—you should try swimming in fresh water once in a while”. To which the Tuna replies, “What’s ‘water’?”. Most (most) drivers are completely clueless as to what it’s like to use a road any other way than in a car, and have no idea how to share or cooperate with any other type of road user. See #1.
I take a philosophical approach to it.
Cycling is an inherently safe and pleasant activity. It’s just disenfranchisement and the monomodal built environment that can make it seem otherwise. I look at environments and how they influence behaviour, then I have nothing to do with the bad ones that create conflict. I don’t see motorists as crazy and evil but regular people who are simply going along with the system and reacting to a frustrating environment. The best thing is to not be in those places. I seek out greenways and PBLs, slow down when there’s some nutty traffic thing ahead, etc. I’m both relaxed and aware of what’s around me. This is pleasant.
My time in the Netherlands was an eye-opener. What I learned mostly is that even after attaining a system that completely includes cycling there will still be people driving cars. (The rhetoric I heard before here was that once gas got very expensive there would be fewer cars around and then we’d get the streets back.) I also saw the Dutch and how happy they are. They make a lot of decisions based on quality of life and equity. It changed my approach to advocacy. I no longer saw it as a fight against an oppressor and now see it as fixing a systemic lack of inclusiveness.
I also got myself a style of bike that’s more like they have over there. Upright, efficient and with stable geometry. It makes a huge difference. I feel more in control and very comfortable.
My style of biking has changed with this bike. I now do speed control changes instead of stops-and-starts. I see something ahead and slow down well before until I know what’s up instead of continuing until the thing is a problem and braking. Again, relaxed and alert.
While I hope that the built environment improvements will continue it’ll always be an ongoing process so I’m having a good time now with what there is now and getting my mobility needs met.
RecommendedBecky Jo — I am SO GLAD you are here.
I try hard to be the Zen cyclist because it’s good for ME. I can react better (if I need to) if I’m not tense and stressed and I can truly enjoy my time outside if I’m not worried about keeping up with the others (or dropping the others, or whatever). It’s not all roses and sunshine out there (I was left hooked in May & just last month had to stop riding and take really deep breaths for a while as I was nearly smushed between a trailer and parked cars), but most of the time it’s so great to be outside and moving rather than in a tin can and not moving. And it’s just The Right Thing to do for your community.
I also do think the longer you ride the better you will be able to anticipate where you do need to really pay attention and where you can just sit back and ride. There are certain intersections or scenarios where I am always super alert, and then there are other sections of my ride where I just ride. One other great thing about riding in Portland compared to other places I’ve ridden is that people here will ride whatever bike they have in whatever clothes they have for the ride in front of them. I came from the triathlon world where you only ever rode fast bikes in lycra and never rode a bike in ‘street clothes’. Now I marvel at the incredibly fast commuters on their hybrid city bikes in street clothes and the people carrying loads on their cargo bikes and the 10 year old on his drop-bar bike racing me to the next light. I’m really so very glad you’re joining us out here.
RecommendedBeing Zen is a practice and also a heightened state of awareness. Zen bike guy isn’t throwing caution to the wind, being too care free, or naive to danger, they have likely been cycling a long time on the same streets and even though they look like they might be a little lackadaisical, are probably very capable of dealing with a dangerous situation quickly, efficiently and safely as soon as they are aware of it.
RecommendedOne thing not mentioned yet is a mirror. While your no-hands, no-helmet ninja won’t have one, plenty of ‘zen’ riders do. Check some out at your LBS, there is a wide range of choices, starting with whether it goes on your bike or on your head. My preference is the EVT Safe Zone Bicycle Helmet Mirror; look for it at Bike Gallery.
As for all the visibility stuff, I haven’t heard of a bike crash due to the “flame-to-a-moth scenario,” but I often hear of “didn’t see them” or “came out of nowhere” excuses. I don’t want to give excuses to bad drivers. I have heard (reputably) that strobe-type flashers provide less distance perception to the approaching vehicle than steady lights but I’m not sure how that plays out in real-world crash statistics. Also, strobes are hard on photosensitive people. My favorite after dark set-up includes steady white front light on the bars, steady red on the rear rack, and a gently pulsing light on the back of my helmet. I also have bits of reflective tape on the pedals, the rack stays, and wheels. Remember that “Hi-Viz” colors are not especially visible in the dark; lights and reflectors are.
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