Hi BBDD,
Thank you for your kind words. You're right, my bike was my lifeline
back then.
I envy you your sidewalks! Compared to my sidewalks, those look like MUP's!
John
On Sunday, February 2, 2020 at 1:03:22 PM UTC-8, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
wrote:
>
> I know this was a horror story with the threatening drivers and untimely
> death of your mother. But aside from that, I was enthralled picturing a
> free-spirited but grieving long-haired teen riding along the ocean, racing
> the squalls coming off of the Pacific and night riding on lonely beach town
> streets.
>
> I’m so sorry about your mom, John. It sounds like your bike helped you
> deal, and I’m glad it did and that you were unharmed on your rides.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Feb 2, 2020, at 11:39 AM, John Phillips <w00ly...@gmail.com
> <javascript:>> wrote:
>
>
> I had forgotten that I had gone through a time like our OP's 47 years
> ago in 1974.
>
> I was in my early teens, had a drop bar bike and would blow off steam
> by taking hour long rides after school along the ocean. Then three things
> happened, my mom passed away, I grew my hair long out of anger and
> rebellion and because she wasn't around any longer to pester me, and
> tourism really, really took off. The roads were filling up with people in
> cars not watching the road, or opening car doors without looking, or
> standing in the middle of the road to take in the view. Or they really
> hated long haired kids on bikes. Several times I found myself checking over
> my shoulder or under my left arm to find the mirror of a Winnebago 3-4 feet
> from my head even though I was hugging the right-hand edge of the asphalt,
> and the driver glaring at me with intent. There was plenty of room to give
> me the lane, let alone 1-2 feet of space, but no, I didn't belong there and
> he was going to give me a lesson. There were too many people who didn't
> have a qualm running a long haired teenager off the road or hitting them
> with their vehicle.
>
> So I took to riding at night. Nearly no body was on those roads at
> night, and I could hear cars coming from a long way off or see the
> headlights, and I would just pull of the road. Or in winter, I rode in
> stormy weather which kept the tourists away as well. I would try and race
> the squalls coming in off the Pacific. A couple of years later, I cut my
> hair, but it was still a bit too risky to ride when the tourists were out.
> And it was quiet and peaceful having the rods to myself.
>
> I don't propose this as a solution for anyone. I'm just saying I know
> what it feels like to fear riding has just become way too dangerous to do
> anymore.
>
> John
>
> PS: There weren't any sidewalks, but sometimes I rode the golf cart paths
> at night when no one was playing. Mea culpa.
>
>
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