Over the lengthy weekend I spent a while with the ‘Noner:
I additionally examined my voluminous tubulars on a wide range of surfaces:
Presumably gravel has gotten so stylish that individuals are actually heading north on Citi Bikes in quest of it. I’m guessing this rider obtained misplaced, wandered off in quest of a deli, and was by no means heard from once more. Count on this to maintain taking place till Citi Bike requires riders to tether themselves to their bikes such as you do once you trip a jet ski.
Not solely that, however as a result of it wasn’t sizzling sufficient right here in New York we took somewhat household street journey to our nation’s capital, the place it was roughly 9 hundred and seventy American Freedom Levels:
Regardless of the warmth we had a implausible time wandering agog via the Nationwide Mall just like the vacationers we had been, and when you or anybody in your loved ones is occupied with aviation historical past I’d extremely advocate the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Middle, which is nicely definitely worth the schlep out to Dulles Worldwide Airport for its astonishing assortment:
It was a beautiful journey, and it made me grateful not just for my household, but additionally to reside on this zany patch of land in between Canada and Mexico we prefer to name the USA:
[Mario Cipollini: A great American]
However, whereas I attempt to not get political on this weblog, on condition that we simply celebrated July 4th, and I simply visited Washington, DC, and it’s an election 12 months, I’m afraid I really feel compelled to deal with a sure elephant–and never simply any elephant, however one which represents an existential menace to our nation.
I’m speaking after all about scooters:
Our nice monuments and memorials are shifting and highly effective, but when in some way the emotional wallop isn’t sufficient to to knock you in your ass then somebody on a scooter virtually actually will. Right here’s a rider who managed to clip my spouse as we walked by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool:
And right here’s what I can solely assume is the Croc of a youthful, earlier sufferer who was not so fortunate:
It was not removed from this very spot after all the place Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke these immortal phrases: “I’ve a dream… From each mountainside, let freedom ring.” So inspiring it was to be right here–and but there was seemingly no escape from the scooter riders, who did their utmost to show this utopian dream right into a Poe-tastic nightmare. Certainly, the one factor they let ring was their bells. Bells, bells, bells–Within the clamor and the clangor of the bells! This conduct additionally prolonged to the streets of downtown, the place vacationers rode two-to-a-scooter on the sidewalk, ordered different individuals to maneuver out of the way in which, and rang their silly little bells at individuals pushing strollers.
So was I unsuitable about scooters all these years in the past?
I dunno. Perhaps it’s not a lot a scooter downside as it’s a vacationer downside. The advocates will level out that individuals received’t trip on the sidewalk in the event that they really feel secure sufficient to trip on the street, but it surely’s onerous to think about the form of one that has the temerity to trip via a freaking struggle memorial goes to be thoughtful sufficient to remain off the sidewalk regardless of how inviting the bike micromobility lane is. Maybe not permitting shared scooters downtown is among the few sensible choices we’ve made right here in New York Metropolis within the final 20 years.
I coulda executed with out ’em is all I’m saying.
