So...Yesterday I experienced a change of seasons--or, perhaps, climates (all right, weather) while riding my bike across a bridge.
Today I didn't experience anything like that. I did, however, see driving habits change. Or so it seemed.
My ride took me down Hipster Hook into Brooklyn--DUMBO, to be exact. After stopping at Recycle a Bicycle, I pedaled up through some central Brooklyn neighborhoods up to the other end of my neighborhood and the north shore of Queens.
It seemed that everywhere I rode--even through the quietest residential areas--I saw more traffic. Not only that, it seemed that teenagers of all ages had taken over the roads. They were sideswiping each other, swooping as close to pedestrians trying to cross streets and honking their horns for no apparent reason. In short, they were driving like kids who'd just gotten their licenses--or who were going to the beach on the day after they graduated.
Or, perhaps, they were driving under the influence of Spring Fever. Even though the season doesn't officially arrive for almost another month, today felt like the first Saturday of spring. In the very young--again, of all ages--the first wave of warmth and sunshine seems to stir up their hormones or shake their brains.
In a way, seeing their behavior was kind of funny. (I guess I can say that because I didn't, thankfully, have any close encounters with any of them.) Why? Well, this evening a storm brought us wind, hard rain and, in some places, hail. As I write this, the temperature has dropped considerably from its earlier highs, and is expected to fall further. Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to be more or less seasonal, which will seem almost polar compared to what we've experienced during the past few days.
I have to wonder whether those drivers I saw today will calm down--or return to hibernation.
Today I didn't experience anything like that. I did, however, see driving habits change. Or so it seemed.
My ride took me down Hipster Hook into Brooklyn--DUMBO, to be exact. After stopping at Recycle a Bicycle, I pedaled up through some central Brooklyn neighborhoods up to the other end of my neighborhood and the north shore of Queens.
It seemed that everywhere I rode--even through the quietest residential areas--I saw more traffic. Not only that, it seemed that teenagers of all ages had taken over the roads. They were sideswiping each other, swooping as close to pedestrians trying to cross streets and honking their horns for no apparent reason. In short, they were driving like kids who'd just gotten their licenses--or who were going to the beach on the day after they graduated.
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| At least they keep their eyes on the road! |
Or, perhaps, they were driving under the influence of Spring Fever. Even though the season doesn't officially arrive for almost another month, today felt like the first Saturday of spring. In the very young--again, of all ages--the first wave of warmth and sunshine seems to stir up their hormones or shake their brains.
In a way, seeing their behavior was kind of funny. (I guess I can say that because I didn't, thankfully, have any close encounters with any of them.) Why? Well, this evening a storm brought us wind, hard rain and, in some places, hail. As I write this, the temperature has dropped considerably from its earlier highs, and is expected to fall further. Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to be more or less seasonal, which will seem almost polar compared to what we've experienced during the past few days.
I have to wonder whether those drivers I saw today will calm down--or return to hibernation.
At the best of times a typical driver has little awareness of anyone else out on the road sitting on a more comfortable seat than they have at home, heated or cooled by better systems than they have at home, distracted by phones or better music systems than they have at home, in a vehicle that they have never really been trained to use or fully comprehend the dangerous momentum which they are nominally in possession of...
ReplyDeleteIt has been said that the best safety feature that could be fitted to a car would be a large spike n the centre of the steering wheel to remind the driver to pay attention and not be stupid. I see so many more cyclists with cameras on their plastic hats, not I suspect to replay their ride to work but record how they were brutally crushed by some half brained idiot.
Ride safe Justine.
Coline--Driving a car is the most dangerous thing most people do. Yet, as you point out, they get almost no training for it. Licensing requirements in most places are a joke.
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