ChiWhoBike #28
I think exploration’s a huge part of what biking means to me. When I was a kid, the biggest thing for us was, does it have pegs on it? Can I do tricks? And with working with the kids, I realized pretty much all they cared about was, how many baskets can I put on it? They immediately had that realization that this bike is something more than just a toy. This is access, this is something that I could create an adventure on. I could go to the store, I could hang out with my friends, I could bring things to someone’s house. It’s a step forward to opening up their world. That was a huge realization, and I think that is like the essence of cycling is that exploration. Whether it’s internal, through moving meditation, or external, through the space you live in.
Biking in Chicago, I dislike the safety for sure. Seeing kids that are getting into biking or seeing people that are hesitant about getting into it, realizing that yes, it is unsafe. Yes, you don’t have a lot of options, you’re gonna be in a situation that’s uncomfortable. I’ve been hit by a car I think three, maybe four times now, and that’s not a super high number for people that are putting this type of mileage down or using it just to commute. And that’s the part where I feel like something has to change. If you don’t have infrastructure, at least have education around it, at least have drivers being aware, at least have an outlet for people to go slower, a different space to be in. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of options, and I think that’s a huge negative. You’re forced to be in that chaos, which, if that’s not your forte, could push you away from cycling.
