"Invisible Cyclists" article

[Geonz]

The article about people who depend on their bicycles from Bicycling Magazine - it's resurfaced and
It's online now :-)
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=809&

(And I'm going on a "posting diet" for the week, 'cause the to do list refuses to shrink and I have to take active steps. Starting now. Really. I mean it. :-)

[Deanna]

I think it resufaced because it was published in the most recent issue of the Utne Reader.

[donnambr]

On my way to a meeting, I had a wonderful conversation with a guy who got on the light rail train the other day with his lovely, old, green Schwinn. He's not Hispanic, but he lost his driver's license 3 years ago, and depends on his bike and the light rail for a 25 mile one way commute to work. I think he was really surprised that I engaged him in a conversation when he asked me about my internal hub gear. I kind of have that respectable, middle class commuter look. Why shouldn't I? It's not like his cycling is somehow less legitimate than my own. He mentioned how his BP has gone down after 3 years of doing this and he seemed surprised that this would happen. We parted ways with a sense of friendliness and common interest that I could not imagine happening given our difference in ages, socioecnomic status, etc. I just hope it isn't wrecked the next time he encounters some snotty cyclist who feels compelled to sneer at his green Schwinn.