[*BCM*] Boston Bikers

[. nevele]

It's definitely not easy to be a friendly bicyclist in this city, and I 
would assume the same goes for most others. After being doored by a BTD car 
in December 2 years ago, then after re-orienting myself to see that the 66 
had also nearly ran over me (bike was halfway under the front of the bus) 
I've pretty much lost faith in any humans in motion. I'm 6'1, 185lbs, ride a 
stupidly heavy Trek mountain bike (dreaming up road bike perfection for when 
I can afford it) and am reminded daily on my way to and from work that I 
have a hidden cloaking device somewhere on my bike. Even at night when I've 
got my Don't-Hit-Me lights blaring, pedestrians will throw themselves at me, 
drivers will see only street lights or lights from other cars, and trains.. 
well, 2 days ago a B line train blew through the 4-way walk signal at Comm. 
and Harvard that I normally rely on.

Even among cyclists there're different types of riders who basically only 
get along during CM. You probably know what I'm talking about.

Events like CM are great, fun things, but the overall focus of events 
specific to certain ways of life should be getting humans in general to 
develope a greater awareness of eachother.

In the meantime, if I'm running late for my crappity ass job in Brookline 
some Sunday morning, and you happen to be the 'weekend warrior' sort of 
cyclist throwing a wave my way, I can't even begin to describe the apathy 
behind my lack of a response.

:D

                        -jb




>From: Mars <martian at MIT.EDU>
>Reply-To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Boston Bikers
>Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 14:14:31 -0400
>
>Friendliness is defined by how you how you interact with people, not by 
>going out of your way to show people you are friendly.
>
>Instead of saying "Hello!", why not say, "I'm friendly!"
>
>TSmith4918 at aol.com wrote:
>>well, thanks for adding reason
>>  "J:  PREFERENCE FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE:  most folks can't be bothered by 
>>meaningless, empty, and fake gestures such as insincere greetings that 
>>might be misconstrued as so-called friendliness.  The search for meaning 
>>is way too energy consuming and can't be distracted, derailed, or debiked 
>>by meaningless.
>>  my god, I've suddenly realized how shallow I am.
>>  keep em coming.
>>=============================
>>   In a message dated 8/17/2006 12:37:20 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
>>martian at MIT.EDU writes:
>>
>>     If you were wearing a hat, would you say hi to everyone you saw
>>     wearing
>>     a hat?
>>
>>     What's the point of saying hello anyway? I suspect one might
>>     answer that
>>     question with, "It's nice." Well, I don't think it is; I think it's
>>     meaningless, empty, and fake.
>>
>>     Personally, I'm already annoyed by how many people I have to talk
>>     to on
>>     a daily basis. The last thing I want is a 2 second 'conversation' to
>>     reassure someone that I am aware of their presence.
>>
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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