Bicycle days

I wanted to say something about China, but will get to it later, because this morning something happened that I had to tell the world.

I was riding to work around 8:45am on my bike down the sidewalk. In the street cars dislike me and in the sidewalk I don't have the visibility that is desired, but what can I do.? So, I was riding, trying not to killed as usual, and a car pulls out from the 7-11 parking lot. I have a split second to decide if I think they see me and I should go in front of them or they don't see me and I more more fucked than I thought. I decide to hit the brakes, already having been run over a little once when I thought the driver clearly saw me. The driver was oblivious to my presence and I increase the pressure on the brakes. Be it my over use of the front brakes, or their inherent better stopping ability, or my sheer needing to stop before hitting the car; My back tired lifted up and I flipped over my handlebars onto the hood of the now stopped car (If I had swerved in front, there would have been major trouble). I rolled to my right off the hood (it came from my left) and signalled "safe", meaning I was okay, I don't want to deal with this. I rode around the back of the car, there being no damage to me, my bike, or the car. The driver opened her door and insisted on apologizing and making sure everything was okay. The driver and the fact everything was okay made it a fun experience, though possibly ominous.

On 'beholden to nothing' I commented on how older people will not give up their cars and ride the train and shit. I would say I may be one of those people. Lately I have been thinking that I will not ride my bike, in Honolulu, past the age of thirty, I will have too much to lose. Everywhere I go it is fairly stressful, and there are close calls, some averted because I am extra vigilant. But, when I get older it will not be worth it. I won't be as resilant and will have something to lose. Though, I would ride the train/bus. Honolulu is not a bike friendly city...because the drivers are horrible. If the light turns red, DO NOT ENTER THE CROSSWALK because just turning red means one or two more cars will continue going. IT is hard to describe how dangerously some of these drivers drive. Oahu is number one in the probablility of there being a death in a car/pedestrian accident.

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