The Cycles of Spring

The airwaves are a-buzzing with the advent of Spring.  First day of Spring this past week; Punxsutawney Phil being sued for “forecast fraud;” snow in the Rockies, New England, Great Plains; freeze warnings right here in Georgia.  March coming in like a lion, going out like a lamb.  Soccer matches in a blizzard.  Rain, thunder, tornadoes auguring all the Usual Suspects.  Then the gentle warming, the sun, the flowers…

…the Cyclists.

A local blogger/DJ created quite a maelstrom recently, suggesting that cyclists are a suicidal scourge bent on keeping motorists from completing their appointed rounds.  The local cycling community responded with a quick denunciation of her point of view, with some more acrimonious than others.  It is the restatement of an age-old Atlanta feud – motorists decry cyclists for being aggressive, arrogant, unsafe; cyclists belittle motorists for not allowing them their God-given (or at least legislated) portion of the road.

As a cycling enthusiast, as well as a Car Guy, I get caught up in both perspectives.  There is nothing more frustrating that a phalanx of lycra-clad roadies clogging up a local avenue by dominating a lane.  On the other hand, I’ve ridden with cycling groups who routinely blow through traffic signals, curse at motorists, ride erratically and unpredictably.  (Once I see that behavior, though, I’m out of there.  Life is too short to deliberately make it too short.)  Similarly, I’ve had a heaping bowlful of close encounters with motorists on cell phones, motorists yelling at me to get off the road, motorists throwing cups, motorists refusing to slow or provide the mandated-by-law three feet of clearance when passing me on my bike.

This is a peril that most cyclists face every time they throw a leg over the top tube.  Aggression meets aggression; curses matched word for word.  The stereotype grows for each faction – all cyclists are idiots; all motorists are homicidal maniacs.  Not a good way, in my opinion, to welcome the joy of Spring.

Patience, Grasshopper...

Cycling publications offer all kinds of advice on what cyclists should do – and not do – when confronted with an aggressive motorist.  Pull off, smile and wave, make a humorous gesture (not involving any particular finger!).  I’ve learned that shouting obscenities only serves to ruin my day.  My favorite response to a non-attentive motorist is the index finger circling the temple in a “cuckoo” motion.  It sends a message that (I hope) might actually result in some reflective behavior.

This week I had an encounter with a motorist of a refreshingly different stripe.  I was huffing up a particularly hard climb (well, hard for me!) entering an intersection, when a lady in a white Camry nosed into the street from the right.  When I made eye contact with her, she stopped and waved.  I waved and romped on the cranks to move out of her way more quickly.  Once through the intersection, I checked my mirror to see her turn in my direction, so I moved as far to the right as I could (I always err on the side of getting out of the way; I know of too many cyclists who have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time).  I waved when she passed; she waved back. 

A pleasant encounter, notable in its simplicity and civility.  The human connection of eye contact and mutual respect made it remarkably, well, Spring-like.  Warm.  Hopeful.  Affirming.

As the groundhog-fraudulent weather starts to fade, and the colors of April begin to pop – whether on blossoms or bicycles – remember that ‘tis the season for grace, renewal, beginnings, forgiveness. 

Spring’s message to cyclists and motorists:  Be gracious.  It only gets better from here…