Totally Spoked: Reflections from a Perennial Bike Commuter

When the first really warm days came a few weeks back, my first inclination turned to one thing: jump on the bike. My love affair with biking has had a storied history. As a wee lad in elementary school, it was a status symbol. If you got the newest Huffy, you had it made getting around between your friends’ houses. This gave way to the mountain bike craze of middle school years, something heavier and bigger to get you through the puddle and woods at the local city parks. High School proved to be a wasteland period, with the car being the preferred method of transportation. My undergrad was small and didn’t require a bike but I used a friend’s quite a bit my senior year to get around town. A year later, the embers of my love affair returned in full force, as I began using at a means to commute around Boston (no small task given the winding roads). My return to the suburbs saw the purchase of a road bike that I used on paved trails and streets. Since moving to Portland, I’ve had a trusty commuter bike, logging more hours than I can count. Reflecting on my experiences commuting to work, going out for a joy ride, or even shopping has helped me consider the nuances of my riding experience.

Yes, There’s a Little Bit of Danger:
My friends and I that are bike commuters occasionally share stories of travails, whether near misses by cars, having to slam on our brakes for errant pedestrians, or getting a flat/broken wheel/etc. because of debris on the road.

And most of us have had accidents. A while back, I was broadsided on a major thoroughfare in Portland’s tourist district by an SUV who was making a right turn and failed to yield. The driver was from out of town, was lost and failed to recognize the bike lane. I left the scene with my bike a little bent but easily fixable and with a few bruises. I was lucky. My co-workers at the time were perplexed that I didn’t seek medical attention. But without a concussion and accepting risks that come with riding, I didn’t let the fear and trauma get to me. I simply went on with biking, being more vigilant and cautious while also being far more communicative with drivers who I see not acknowledging cyclists or being too aggressive around bike lanes.

Ultimately the Danger Pales In Comparison to the Benefits:
This is just something we accept, and keep doing it in the name of physical health, health and the environment and just the pure adrenaline rush. There’s plenty of research on its benefits, as seen here. I’m going to take a little more philosophical tact. While the concrete benefits are crucial, I believe that it is the overall mentality derived from bike commuting that helps affirm the concrete.

For I’ve Better Recognized and Appreciated My Community
I tell people my story about being hit to help raise mindfulness about the shared roads as well as to exemplify what it means to be a community. For indeed it’s easier to get in the zone in the car, focusing on the road and fellow cars with only the passengers able to take in the environs. Indeed, I recently did a longer commute than I usually do, 7 miles each way. After reviewing over directions and memorizing the route, I went for it. I was amazed at neighborhoods I had never explored, seeing their uniqueness and quirks that define my city. I was joyous, for I was more fully connecting myself with my city and affirming the meaning of what it means to be home.

It’s a Great Practice in Self-Inventory
Being on the bike, I do not experience the same level of routine as I do in a car. I have to be mindful and more attentive to how my feet are positioned, what I’m wearing and if it is visible to others. In addition, it has taught me about mindfulness of my consumerism. When grocery shopping, I often use a car to ensure that all my items can be carried home with ease. However, on a few occasions I have used a bike with panniers (bags that attach to the bike) and through having to resort to grocery bags on the handlebars and groceries falling out, recognize just how much space my groceries take up. It has begged the question of the most grocery items and what I most need for the week so that I can properly plan my meals.

It’s An Excellent Display in Generosity
A few months back, I saw a fellow cyclist sitting on the curb, disoriented. I thought she had been in an accident. Thankfully, she was just lost. After talking with her a bit of where she needed to go, we rode to the general vicinity. It is this level of personalism, of acknowledging your fellow travelers and commuters in life, that has greater increased my generosity, as well as my empathy and compassion. Doing right is not simply a destination, but the journey that gets you there. And cycling is a wonderful means for the journey…