Babbeling Boundaries by Bike

A few days ago, while biking home down the Ohlone Greenway, I encountered a pedestrian walking down the middle of the bike path. She heard me coming, fluttered between sides, not sure of which side was appropriate… I called out with a playful voice, “Pick a side!” The walker slid to the left and as I passed we shared a smile. This little moment reminded me that we have a choice of how to set our boundaries and direction, not only signaling while biking but also signaling our emotions and desires to those around us.  This week this consciousness has presented it’s self while biking through town.

This new found outlet of expression for me of expressing my direction as I bike is enlightening. Traveling by car we have our turn signals, horn, brake lights, and such a larger visual presence. Moving through town by bike requires the biker to use their body as a signaling device. I’ve been biking as my main mode of transport for over a year and just now there is an awareness settling in of how I express my direction to fellow travelers of the city streets and bike paths.

The obvious signals us bikers have are the arm signals we all learn in Drivers Ed in high school… Arm pointed left for left and straight up for right. As a biker I have much more freedom with out the encasement of the car…. I can use my right arm as well. There can be grace and sense of dance as I feel the wind blow around my extended arm as I decisively curve right. Then there is voice. I do have a little bell on my bike, but If I’m needing to sound to a car that I’m in danger, the little ding of my bell probably won’t cut it.  I’ve found my voice.

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