Vee loffs zee cycling, YaYa, GoGo!

A great thing happened on a ride yesterday. My buddy Marc and I were climbing the hot, sunny switchbacks up Mt. Hamilton, in the foothills east of San Jose. Marc, riding ahead of me, encountered a caravan of a van and motorcyclists as he pedaled the hot climb. The passengers in the lead van cheered for the parched Marc as they drove next to him, cheering “Ya Ya Ya!”, and snapped his picture as they drove by. He waved, gave them the thumbs up, downed some energy gel as they asked him if he was OK. They had German accented English. They were guided tourists checking out a beautiful spot of California, some of them trying it out on those big American Harleys! He told me about it when we met at the top of the climb, where there’s a beautiful observatory and spectacular view.

“Did you see those motorcyclists?”

They had ridden by me. I said I saw them go past me, but there were no callouts. I probably wasn’t suffering like Marc, he was far ahead, punishing himself on the sweltering climb. So at least he inspired their cheers!

But as an experienced road cyclist in the U.S., Marc was pleasantly surprised by the warmth shown by the German tourists toward an unknown cycler. They appreciated his determination, and let him know it. This kind of thing is a rarity in our part of the world, where motorcyclists and drivers tend to look at cyclists on the road as irritating, in the way and best crowded out of the way.

On the other hand, there are many cyclists that constantly incur the wrath of drivers because they don’t obey traffic rules in a “hit me if you dare” attitude. They just fuel the already long burning fires among drivers resentful and intolerant of bike riders.

I’ve been in both situations: Driving, I’ve been angered by cyclists flouting traffic rules and forcing evasive moves. And riding my bike, I’ve been livid at drivers that have tried to honk and run me off the road. Both are bad situations.

In the U.S., cars have dominated the roads since their invention, and bike riding hasn’t been a commonly used way to get around as it has in old countries.

So here, I think it’s a perceived threat to the car’s traditional road dominance that often triggers an “us vs. them” anger-fueled opposition.

But in Germany and other European countries, where bike riding is embedded in many of those cultures, drivers and riders have a much more enlightened and healthy “we” mentality toward each other, one of support and cooperation. 

So let’s dream a little. With enough goodwill and tolerance cultivated among drivers and cyclists in this country, the fist shaking will hopefully some day be replaced with friendly waves and goodwill.

This can happen if both drivers and cyclists extend the olive leaf of mutual respect, by sharing the road and obeying traffic signals. So, no doubt, here in the U.S., both sides have a long way to go.

Still, back to the dream. Let’s visualize the day when most drivers and cyclists in the U.S. automatically drop their “us vs. them” mentality, and start thinking respectfully and harmonically with a cooperative “we” on the road and in traffic.

Now, I’m not saying American cyclists pedaling hard on a ride need to be cheered on by all drivers like the German tourists did for Marc. No, just being given enough room on the road is the best symbolic cheer that can be made by a driver.  

But hey, as my ride buddy Marc can attest, it absolutely lifts the spirit when moral support for a cyclist pops up out of nowhere from a passing motorist. All from just offering a wave, a smile or word of encouragement. So let’s do it!

Until next time, remember to strap on that helmet before every bike ride. And always keep the rubber side down.

--Mark Eric Larson

Mark Eric Larson has written two books of essays, "The NERVE...of Some People's Kids," and "Don't Force it, Get a Bigger Hammer. To read, visit: 
http://www.scribd.com/Mark%20Eric%20Larson/shelf