Last Saturday’s 60-mile bike ride was extraordinary: my ByrneInvent teammates and I had more than a half dozen actively positive interactions with drivers and passers-by — and no negative ones! A guy crossing the street with his cup of coffee cheered us as we went by. A Metro bus driver passed us with an entire lane to spare, and then gave us a thumbs-up as we passed him at a layover. Drivers made space for us to change across lanes when we signalled. The traffic sensor in the turn lane at 145th has been fixed to detect bikes. People waved. Walkers on the trail smiled.
Can it be that we’ve finally turned the corner to a society in which cyclists are recognized fondly as legitimate road users? Even admired?
Or was it just one of those bluebirds-singing, everything-right-with-the-world Disney moments that occur on the rare occasions when Seattle has sunshine in February?
It was real – I’ve noticed the same things on sunny winter’s days!