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Monday, April 11, 2005

The Power of Hello, Good Morning, and Just Plain Being Nice

The nice thing about commuting by bike is that it lets your mind run free to think, contemplate, and refresh itself as you start your day. You get that on the back end too, of course, but the morning ride in is the start to a new day and there's a lot less to release at that point.

Something I've noticed while commuting is how just the simple act of saying "Hello" or "Good Morning" to the people you see while you ride in can go a long way to making you feel good...while also being good for cyclists in general. Let me explain...

We live in a world of perceptions and everytime a cyclist gives a driver the finger or shouts at him/her to "@#&* off!" it has the potential to alienate us that much more from those we share the road with. Now I'm not gonna say that I haven't done both of those things. I have. But I really strive to control my actions. Somebody's gotta do something pretty harsh for me to harsh back on them.

Now saying "hello" or "good morning" to the folks I see on the ride in, whether they are pedestrians, waiting for a bus, walking out to their cars, or working in their yards doing lawn work, has incedible potential to do good. That simple interaction has the power to change their view of me on a bike. And in doing so, it has the opportunity to change their view of all the bicyclists they encounter.

The simple act of being friendly and wishing them well can turn that person (who probably does drive a car from time to time) into someone who appreciates a bicyclist as a friendly encounter, rather than being antagonized by their presence.

Consider the possibilities. Friend or foe based on our interaction with them? I suggest friend.

Thanks for listening,
Kid

Posted by Salsa Kid : 12:57 PM 0 comments | permalink