Things People Say To Me
Jack over at Bike Commuters blog had a post that reminded me of some of the things people say to me because I ride a bike for my daily transportation. Here are some highlights:
While waiting at a stop light an older southern black gentleman says to me….
“Bicycle Gangsta! Yeah, that’s whatcha are. Ya bicycle gangsta YOU! Ya get off from yaw office building job and change outta yaw suit and get on ya bike and ya turn into a bicycle gangsta!”
My response: “But I don’t wear a suit.”
His response: “Oh, but I know you. Yaw Bicycle Gangsta!”
Thoughts: But I really don’t wear a suit. I hate suits. I hope to never have a job where I have to wear suits.
Lady Parking Attendant in the morning as I lock up my bike …
“I looove your bike with the giant basket it reminds me of home! I am from Ethiopia and everyone’s rides, no driving. When I went to high school I rode a bike with a basket ONE hour each ways every day. I miss it. I wish I could ride to work, but it’s 22 miles each way!”
Thoughts: I wish she could ride everyday too. I’ve been thinking about giving her Rocky when the new bike gets here.
Riding up in the elevator to my office after getting ready at the gym in the basement of my building and older white guy says…
“Wow! (he points enthusiastically to my helmet hanging off my bag) You ride to work?! Everyday?” Yes I do I tell him. “Wow! You just inspired me! I think I’m going to try that.”
Thoughts: Cool. I hope the bike racks don’t get too crowded, but I’m excited that people are willing to try commuting by bike too! *The last two days there is a new bike on the rack, I wonder if it's his?
Lady with pink hair and a studded belt and blue converse that had watched me for several mornings and smiled at me while I hiked my bike up on my shoulder to go up the stairs at the Buckhead MARTA station…
“More power to ya girl!”
Thoughts: That was out of the blue, but I hope she is inspired to ride.
Co-worker in the mornings in the office kitchen…
“How was your ride this morning? How long did it take you?”
Thoughts: He asks this every morning! I hope he is inspired to ride his bike too.
Gangster looking guys in a rusty beater old brown Mazda 2 door car as I am waiting for a red light along Peachtree Road.
“Nice Bike!” laughing as they pull away at the green light.
Thoughts: Nice *car* Jackass.
My boss, everyday.
“Did you ride today?”
Thoughts: Of course I did. I think she secretly wants me not too just to make her feel better about justifying the use and need of her giant Expedition *which she has admitted to being too big and they owe too much to sell it now.
My neighbor, I live in a duplex so we share a front porch…
“Where did you go today? Allover I bet. You ride like a hundred miles a day huh?”
Thoughts: I wish I had that kind of time to ride.
Another Co-worker, numerous times...
“What do you do when it rains?”
Thoughts: This is my MOST asked question. I used to answer with specifics on how I wrap everything up in baggies and I how I got a new waterproof trunk bag. But simply saying "I get wet" usually gets the best response- Matt came up with that one.
A lady *in a suit* in the elevator noticed that I had two bags (my trunk and handlebar bag) and my helmet before she got off on the law firm floor below mine she said…
“You ride your bike to work and have to carry ALL that?! Woo- that’s too much work for me!”
Thoughts: She is wearing panty hose, heels, a TON of makeup and looks like her hair took her at least 30 minutes to fix in that perfect fancy up-do, not to mention she is lawyer so obviously went to law school- isn't that like hard work? Did she mean riding a bike is too much work or did she mean carrying the two 6”x12” bags?
A lady at the gym that gets ready at the same time I do every morning asked me…
“Are you still riding your bike? How do you do it in the heat?”
Thoughts: It’s pretty nice and cool in the mornings most days.
I responded with “I guess I’ve gotten used to it since I’m out there everyday.”
Last night at the bike rack in Little 5 Points, another chick was unlocking her bike right next to mine at about 10:45…
“Aren’t you glad it’s not storming! We can count our blessings that we don’t have to ride home in the rain and lightening! Have a good ride home!”
Thoughts: I love riding my bike!
While waiting at a stop light an older southern black gentleman says to me….
“Bicycle Gangsta! Yeah, that’s whatcha are. Ya bicycle gangsta YOU! Ya get off from yaw office building job and change outta yaw suit and get on ya bike and ya turn into a bicycle gangsta!”
My response: “But I don’t wear a suit.”
His response: “Oh, but I know you. Yaw Bicycle Gangsta!”
Thoughts: But I really don’t wear a suit. I hate suits. I hope to never have a job where I have to wear suits.
Lady Parking Attendant in the morning as I lock up my bike …
“I looove your bike with the giant basket it reminds me of home! I am from Ethiopia and everyone’s rides, no driving. When I went to high school I rode a bike with a basket ONE hour each ways every day. I miss it. I wish I could ride to work, but it’s 22 miles each way!”
Thoughts: I wish she could ride everyday too. I’ve been thinking about giving her Rocky when the new bike gets here.
Riding up in the elevator to my office after getting ready at the gym in the basement of my building and older white guy says…
“Wow! (he points enthusiastically to my helmet hanging off my bag) You ride to work?! Everyday?” Yes I do I tell him. “Wow! You just inspired me! I think I’m going to try that.”
Thoughts: Cool. I hope the bike racks don’t get too crowded, but I’m excited that people are willing to try commuting by bike too! *The last two days there is a new bike on the rack, I wonder if it's his?
Lady with pink hair and a studded belt and blue converse that had watched me for several mornings and smiled at me while I hiked my bike up on my shoulder to go up the stairs at the Buckhead MARTA station…
“More power to ya girl!”
Thoughts: That was out of the blue, but I hope she is inspired to ride.
Co-worker in the mornings in the office kitchen…
“How was your ride this morning? How long did it take you?”
Thoughts: He asks this every morning! I hope he is inspired to ride his bike too.
Gangster looking guys in a rusty beater old brown Mazda 2 door car as I am waiting for a red light along Peachtree Road.
“Nice Bike!” laughing as they pull away at the green light.
Thoughts: Nice *car* Jackass.
My boss, everyday.
“Did you ride today?”
Thoughts: Of course I did. I think she secretly wants me not too just to make her feel better about justifying the use and need of her giant Expedition *which she has admitted to being too big and they owe too much to sell it now.
My neighbor, I live in a duplex so we share a front porch…
“Where did you go today? Allover I bet. You ride like a hundred miles a day huh?”
Thoughts: I wish I had that kind of time to ride.
Another Co-worker, numerous times...
“What do you do when it rains?”
Thoughts: This is my MOST asked question. I used to answer with specifics on how I wrap everything up in baggies and I how I got a new waterproof trunk bag. But simply saying "I get wet" usually gets the best response- Matt came up with that one.
A lady *in a suit* in the elevator noticed that I had two bags (my trunk and handlebar bag) and my helmet before she got off on the law firm floor below mine she said…
“You ride your bike to work and have to carry ALL that?! Woo- that’s too much work for me!”
Thoughts: She is wearing panty hose, heels, a TON of makeup and looks like her hair took her at least 30 minutes to fix in that perfect fancy up-do, not to mention she is lawyer so obviously went to law school- isn't that like hard work? Did she mean riding a bike is too much work or did she mean carrying the two 6”x12” bags?
A lady at the gym that gets ready at the same time I do every morning asked me…
“Are you still riding your bike? How do you do it in the heat?”
Thoughts: It’s pretty nice and cool in the mornings most days.
I responded with “I guess I’ve gotten used to it since I’m out there everyday.”
Last night at the bike rack in Little 5 Points, another chick was unlocking her bike right next to mine at about 10:45…
“Aren’t you glad it’s not storming! We can count our blessings that we don’t have to ride home in the rain and lightening! Have a good ride home!”
Thoughts: I love riding my bike!
Comments
I think its great. Just be careful!!love u --gramma
I also get the question about "what happens when it rains". It's interesting how mankind got wet throughout thousands of years of history, and then when the car comes along, we forget that people get wet when they're outside and it rains. Normality has been inverted.
It seems there are countless ways that the car cuts people off from each other and the world around them.