I stayed late after work so biked home at 5 PM instead of 1:30. What a difference! The groups of bikes I pass in the morning passed again on their way home. I am usually a solo bike stopped at lights but that night I was quickly joined by small masses of bikers ranging from pros to beginners.

Even in this small group there is an energy that is as contagious as the H1N1 bug!

At one stop light I was quickly joined by a large group of bikers. As we waited for the light to go green this obese SUV driver and his chubby passenger yelled out “Hey, you morons are not cars and are not pedestrians!” There is nothing sweeter than the laughter of a dozen bikers as we biked away; and judging by the SUV driver’s multi-chinned scowl this was not the reaction he was expecting  (^_^)

This is the second time a SUV driver has tossed this statement at a bike. So to the SUV drivers out there — this is Seattle not Florida (read Miles from Nowhere: A Round the World Bicycle Adventure by Barbara Savage to see why you really NEVER want to visit Florida!). Due to Seattle’s crowded, abused, and neglected roads bikers are doing drivers a favor turning onto sidewalks until the road clears again. Along Westlake the Slut tracks force bikers onto the sidewalk. If the drivers want to spend millions in fixing the roads we will be happy to remain on them. If the drivers want us on the road all the time, fine — breath deep, seek peace, the traffic well slow to the level of the slowest biker… Until this — yes we are not cars or peds | we are bikers and have freedom in Seattle.

Tags: Bike, bike to work