A while back, a man in his 70s looked at my bike skeptically.
"Why do your ride it?"
When I said "saves money," "doesn't pollute," he scoffed. But he agreed when he said it was good for my health.
I forgot to tell him real reason: Joy.
Day in, day out, my bike makes me happy.
π§΅
When I was in my 20s, I decided that I was going to live a car-free life.
Almost four decades laterβno regrets. Opting for transit, trains, bicycles, buses, and subways has taken me to great places, and given me the kind of life I always wanted to live.
More in the latest High Speed dispatch:
I can park pretty much anywhere in the neighborhood.
Whenever I have to stop at any local shop, I can stop right. at. the. door.
Freedom is another word that comes to mind.
That's first for me when I'm on my bike.
It doesn't mean no rules.
A popular private pilots association catch phrase is 'Freedom to Fly'.
I bet a ton of cyclists feel the same.
I've done both, and when it comes to taking up little airplanes or cycling, my choice would never not be my bike.
Being caressed by the wind. The good scents flickering by just as fast as the bands of light while passing by tall trees. How much more you get to see of the world by going through it a bit slower.
It does save tons of money, doesn't pollute, and is good good for health. But how on earth did a 70 year old go his whole life not knowing the joy, reverences and endorphins of a bike ride on a good day??
@straphanger next you see him please ask the question that he will most benefit from:
"why do you scoff at correct answers to your own questions?"
@falcennial @straphanger
- "saves money"
[scoff]
... ok mr richpants mcmoney, I'm sorry.
"it doesn't pollute like a car does."
[scoffs]
70 suddenly seems like enough, time to finish living.
@[email protected] @adriano @straphanger for the innocent, for the peace loving, the kind, the generous, the just, the protectors, the helpers, the compassionate, the open minded, the loving, the caring, the respectful, and the deserving always. categorically.
not for the cruel, the derisive, the snide, the destructive, the hateful, or even the sarcastic. for those, only fairness and justice.
this is not a difficult concept my friend. I would expect it to be self evident.
@adriano @straphanger did I misread Rando Calrizian's comment or is there a fediverse user who wants me, for some reason, to show compassion to creatures who deride people for wishing to live in a safe climate?
because I do not think I am going to do that.
& now I'm thinking about the old guy I met at the grocery store bikerack. Don't know what moved me to speak to him, except he seemed agreeable & was older than I was. (I was probably 45 at the time.)
"Can I guess that you're older than 50?"
He nodded.
"Can I tell you a story? 15-ish years before, a friend of mine seemed very troubled by my lack of car & dependence on biking for travel. 'What are you going to do when you turn 50!?" (She was β10 years older than me.) >>
(What I didn't have the presence of mind to reply with was, "A damn sight better than if I β’don'tβ’ stay in the habit of biking!")
After gentleman & I rolled our eyes at my friend's attitude, he said, "Would you like to know how old I am?"
"Sure!"
"92." Whereupon he mounted his bike & peddled off.
@straphanger Answer I gave 10 years ago:
it's faster than walking.
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