Commuter’s Corner #10: Beyond the Wall of Fear
It is unquestioned truth to most cyclists that riding in the street is a death wish and tantamount to suicide. Rare is the cyclist who has gone beyond this, the wall of fear. Well, I have, and here I report back on my experience. I am pleased to report that I am still alive. I am also happy to say that this experience has proven to be pleasantly surprising. Ironic, even.
Yes, it did begin with opprobrium from some motorists, you know, with the honking horns. But it is also true that the phenomenon of acclimation reported by other commuters, where the motorists get used to having cyclists around, has also transpired in my case. I’ve now done this for nearly three years, and the honking and so forth have declined to nearly nothing. I have become accustomed to taking the lane and riding along my merry way. I have gone beyond the wall of fear.
But here the real story begins. For I have become a denizen, an inhabitant of the lane. The lane is no longer something I “take”, it is now something I rightfully occupy and own. I therefore have expectations of my fellow travelers, whatever their transit mode: not only for their respect, but also their unfailing attention to what they are doing, and thus competence in their driving.
For beyond the wall of fear, I no longer experience that cold chill of rejection one feels when some ignorant motorist opts to lean on their horn in hopes of re-establishing the car-only order of the street. Nowadays I ignore their intent to get me out of their way, and focus on the fact that it is useful that they let me know they are there, and that they are signaling that they can see me. I feel downright safe. And they always go around. I wave and smile.
I also no longer feel disappointment when waiting for unwitting motorists who lose everybody’s time at the light because it turned green while they were still scrolling thru all those cat pictures on their stupid phone. This now pisses me off, so I bellow at them to get their heads back where they belong: focused on what’s in front of their vehicle.
That’s right, you read this correctly: BEYOND THE WALL OF FEAR, IT IS THE CYCLIST WHO DOES THE YELLING. HEY, SOMEBODY HAS TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC MOVING. Maybe I should get an airhorn. And duct tape to stick it on my bars.
There is more. Remember Lance Armstrong’s “The Look” on L’Alpe D’Huez back in 2001? Beyond the wall of fear, I have come to employ the same “look back” (and hand signals) at the drivers whose cars I am about to move in front of when preparing to turn left, and for the same reason: it is not only a signal of intent, it is also intimidating. They don’t want to run over the vulnerable cyclist from behind, and they know why. So they slow down, I take the next lane, and then I make my turn. Groceries, anyone?
Beyond the wall of fear, it is the cyclists who manage the lane. I will straighten out the inattentive in traffic, so it flows predictably. I will wave back at the police who celebrate that I stopped at that yellow light. I will glare and snarl at the motorists when they are on their phones, when they fail to yield, when they fail to signal.
Beyond the wall of fear, the street is a wonderful place, where cyclists achieve oneness with the traffic, because the motorists take instruction. May there be more cyclists there to provide it in the years ahead.