When you spend as much time tooling around town on your bike like most of us do, well, you get bike brained.
I never really thought about a concept that much until I found myself trying to snap out of my bike brained funk.
And, oh yeah, I just coined the phrase myself so don’t go stealing bikebrained.com from me! Bikebrained.co or bikebrained.net are all yours for the taking.
Anyways, it all came about one day when I had to leave the bike in the garage and drive to pick up my daughters at volleyball practice.
No sweat, I thought to myself. I ride by the Fair Grounds every day on my way to work, dismissing the fact I ride on the bike path behind it.
I hopped into the truck (well, OK, it’s an SUV, but for some reason we’ve always called it the truck to differentiate between the SUV and the regular old car) and headed out.
As I ventured on my more aesthetic route, I thought about the joys of living someplace long enough that you know the shortcuts and tricks, so you don’t have to get jammed in traffic with the rest of the fools, even though, in Eugene, Oregon, a traffic jam takes on a totally different meaning than in say, So Cal.
Just about then, the quiet residential street I enjoy every morning abruptly ended at the bike/pedestrian bridge that crosses the freeway.
Dang.
Nope, the truck, nor any SUV, nor even our car will be taking this route anytime soon, nor ever. Damn, bike brained!
Or how about a few years back when Oregon finally passed the Idaho Stop Law. Wait, it has already been four years! And only 12 states have passed it? AND Idaho first passed the law in 1982?! WTH!?!
Anyways, that finally made it actually LEGAL for me to breeze through a couple stop signs in our neighborhood riding my bike when no one was around.
The only problem, of course, is me being bike brained, so when I zip down that hill in the truck (or car), WHOA NELLIE! Anti-lock brakes sure make stopping in a hurry an embarrassing move, d-d-d-o-o-o-n-n-n’t-t-t-t they?
This week’s question: When do you find yourself a victim of bikebrainedeism? (and keep your mitts off bikebraiedeism.com, too!)
Typically, same way you did. When I go somewhere in the car for that rare time I don’t go there by bike. Oh, I can’t cut through here so how do I get there from here, etc.
As far as the Idaho Stop, it seems to be kryptonite to bike advocacy in these parts. I don’t even bring it up any more. Just do a track stand at the stop sign and move on. Use the red light as a place to stop and contemplate life and watch how the other half live.
Planning my driven route so it is all right turns.
Stop signs and red lights, since the pandemic are treated like suggestions by drivers and cyclists alike here in upstate NY.
My street cycling got me in the habit of watching the upcoming intersection for the countdown ‘clock’ on the WALK sign of the crossing street. Useful to know early enough to down shift, if I CAN’T make it.
I find myself “bike brained” now to do the same when I drive, but I think it’s a good habit!