<idle musing>
This weekend, Debbie and I were riding on busier roads than usual and a trend emerged. Nearly every time a large 4x4 passed us, they seemed to feel obligated to gun the engine. If it were only the ones passing us, I can somewhat understand it; it makes sense that you want to get past as soon as possible and get back in your lane—although a vehicle going 50-60 mph passing a bicycle doing 15-20 mph doesn’t need to accelerate very much. But, the oncoming vehicles, why should they need to gun their engines? It’s not like they are passing us!
So, I ask, what is it about a bicycle that causes the driver of a 4x4 to feel the need to gun their engine? It certainly can’t be that we are a threat to them, can it? When was the last time you saw a bicycle pass one? It must be something deeper. Could it be that it reveals the secondary nature of the power they control? Is a bicycle a threat to their masculinity, so much so that they have to reassure themselves by gunning the engine? Perhaps “muscle trucks” is a misnomer and they should be called muscle-less trucks : )
Just an idle musing on a Monday morning
</idle musing>
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2 comments:
There is joy in noise, horsepower, and speed. (You drive a Geo Metro. You don't know about that.) There is joy in quietly getting somewhere under your own power. And, of course, there's a certain sense of fun in needling people who don't choose to enjoy the same things. Seems you're just as guilty as they are, James. :-)
I'm sure the riders up here deal with the same thing. The road between the seminary and our town is narrow and winding with plenty of hills. It's fun on a bike, but even more fun zooming in a car. In the summer we have to crank up the caution because there are so many people on bikes. Your post is a good reminder to give the riders a little respect.
Oh, and thanks for the heads up on the back to school sale!
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