A Bridge Too Far – Bike Snob NYC

On Wednesday I discussed Jeremy Vine so I figured I’d examine in on what the previous boy’s been as much as, and I used to be in no way stunned to be taught that he stays aggrieved:

Now I ought to level out that as an American I do know completely nothing about Jeremy Vine’s broadcasting profession; I solely learn about his bicycling exploits. So any feedback I make about him are totally on this context. Also, I consider that when bicycling, folks ought to be happy to dress themselves any method they select, and I actually veer from “regular” road clothes to full fits of stretchy technical clothes–generally in the identical day! At the identical time, I can’t assist asking…why the hell can’t this man simply costume regular whereas he’s using round London for chrissakes?

That’s effective if you wish to costume like a SCUBA diver who’s gloved as much as administer a prostate examination, however he’s a public determine, and this getup displays poorly on all of us. I understand the helmet cam or no matter he makes use of distorts issues significantly, and perhaps is simply carrying comparatively regular garments and it solely appears bizarre due to the system he’s utilizing. But both method, whether or not it means tweaking his wardrobe or his lens, if he might current himself much less freakishly and extra proportionately I feel it will go a good distance in direction of incomes each himself and the remainder of us a bit extra respect.

Superficial issues apart, this time Vine’s downside appears to be the bike lane on the Westminster Bridge, which seems to be the equal of the Brooklyn Bridge bike path in that it’s stuffed with vacationers:

Of course, New York City truly solved the issue of vacationer/bicyclists conflicts on the Brooklyn Bridge by giving the trail and all its panoramic views fully over to the vacationers and giving the bicyclists a very separate and non-scenic path on the roadway:

If I sound bitter or cynical about this I’m in no way–this can be a excellent and pragmatic answer, even when advocates act prefer it’s an unmitigated catastrophe as a result of generally there’s a puddle in it:

Two methods to have a look at this:

1) The metropolis has failed you, bicyclists ought to by no means need to encounter water

OR

2) When it rains it will get moist so use fenders

*shrug*https://t.co/rlDNSAysYr

— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) October 17, 2022

But I collect London has not applied an identical answer and so Mr. Vine should cease repeatedly as he makes his method throughout the span.

To his credit score, he’s very well mannered and thoughtful, in contrast to that COMPLETE ASSHOLE on the Brooklyn Bridge who used to make movies of himself singing loudly and as soon as hit a bit woman. But to the vacationers’ credit score they’re additionally fairly thoughtful, as a result of they ultimately do transfer, and would you progress for this? I’m undecided that I might:

He appears like he’s on his method to Lugash to steal the Pink Panther:

Strangely, Vine additionally notes that the pedestrians are “principally not from this nation,” which in these overly delicate instances one would possibly try to interpret as some type of xenophobia. I’m not overly delicate, nor do I feel he meant something adverse by it, although I do suppose it’s ironic he feels compelled to level out they’re principally not from this nation when he appears like he’s principally not from this planet:

I do nevertheless take problem together with his characterization of 1 vacationer as a “impolite American:”

His crime? Asking, “Where are you from?” and never liking his scorching canine:

Except within the case of Don Rickles when “Where are you from?” was instantly adopted by a slew of ethnic jokes, asking this query is just well mannered discourse in America. Also, “What form of hotdog is that this?” is a good query, since British delicacies is certainly deeply vexing. I keep in mind the primary time I visited London perhaps 30 years in the past and noticed that they put corn on their pizza. I discovered this stunning–much more so than pineapple, which is a well-liked pizza topping in sure cultural backwaters right here in Canada’s bum bag–and so “What form of pizza is that this?” would have been a wonderfully cheap query for me to ask. As it occurs, I didn’t ask it, however I did order a slice utilizing customary New York food-ordering protocol, which is to say: “Lemme get [insert food item here].” (This could sound brusque, but it surely’s all within the supply.) To my shock, the particular person ready behind me discovered this offensive and lectured me for being impolite. I suppose that is the principle distinction between our two nations: they suppose it’s impolite to not say “please” and “thanks” gratuitously, and we expect it’s impolite to not thoughts your individual enterprise, although I assume we take folks minding their very own enterprise with no consideration over right here as a result of in the event you don’t you stand a fairly good probability of being shot.

So lower the American vacationer some slack, is all I’m saying. He’s clearly a large doofus, however I don’t suppose he was being impolite.

Also he would possibly shoot you.

All of that is to say none of this actually struck me as a “circus” that “defies description,” and my impression didn’t change when the driving force of a Range Rover truly stops for him:

The thought of a Range Rover driver stopping for a bicyclist in New York City is totally unthinkable.

Nevertheless, as Vine ends his journey, he concludes, “This cycle lane scares the residing daylights out of me.”

The feeling is mutual, bizarre Space Man.

You need scary? Ping me when this occurs: