And I mean that quite literally. I mean, take a look at the shot above. That is the Manhattan Bridge pretty much on any given day!! The Brooklyn Bridge however, is another story. Now, I am a pretty laid back chilled out person. But when I try to ride over the Brooklyn Bridge, I am enraged by the time I get from the concrete incline up to the slatted plateau because of the throngs of tourists that just can’t stay out of the bike lane. I mean, REALLY people, they have a picture of a bike in one lane, and a picture of a walking figure in the other. You don’t have to speak English to understand that the bike lane, when facing Manhattan is on the right side, and the walking path is on the left. When facing Brooklyn, the bike lane is on the left, and the walk path is on the right. I don’t even have a picture to post here of this nightmare because I get so mad about it, that I don’t even think of my camera as I’m riding through all the inconsiderate people. All I want to do is blast an air horn right up on someone’s ear every time I get on the bridge….

…But never again!! Yes, I have now renounced the Brooklyn Bridge for riding forever more!! I mean it. My poor nerves can’t take it. I can’t stand the tourists in the bike lane taking pictures, not paying attention, strolling in the lane like three wide, letting their kids run around in the lane–oh that’s a doozie!! Or my personal favorite, they stroll in the bike lane on the downhill. Oh god, there is nothing that enrages me more than to have a good speed going, flying, literally flying down the decline on the bridge and having to rubberneck because of these thoughtless people. Rubbernecking…..on a bike?!?! Oh hell no….

Sometimes what I do to teach them a lesson is to time it so that as they are strolling and not paying attention to what they are doing, I speed up and literally brush their arms as I whiz by. And more times than not, I hear them get startled and jump a bit. I always smirk, thinking that maybe I have taught them a lesson. I can feel the dirty stares on the back of my head, but I don’t care. They need to either have me scare them or some equally thoughtless cyclist actually hit and hurt them. Yes, I can admit there are thoughtless cyclists too–we are not always the innocent ones out on the road…

One time I was so pissed at having to keep yelling my usual “Excuse me!!” to all the offenders that I just lost it on one woman when I came upon her in the bike lane that I yelled (and even much to my own surprise), “MOVE!!” She was so stunned she turned around and I gave her a dirty look as I rolled by her, and again, I felt a dirty look thrown right back at me, boring into the back of my head. I felt a little guilty about yelling at someone like that, but I was frustrated with the whole situation.

And it doesn’t even really get any better in the evening either. So I am making a call to arms: all cyclists, take the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges as our own!! I mean, sure, you may at times have to take the Brooklyn Bridge to a destination that is close to it, but remember, you’re on a bike. In my book, there is no “out of the way” on a bike. It just means more toning for your thighs, more conditioning your circulation. Who cares if you have to go a few blocks more? Isn’t it worth it just to avoid fantasies of beating down a tourist in the bike lane with your chain?….or is it just me that has those fantasies?…..

Really, look at that picture of the Manhattan Bridge during the day. It’s empty. You can ride however you wish across the span–hey do wheelies if you want. No one is on the bridge!! Granted, at night it really is creepy–I know I’m spooked on it at night and I don’t spook very easily–but you get to and from Brooklyn a lot quicker. And also noted is that it lacks the same kind of incline and decline the Brooklyn Bridge has which most riders prefer to work up a bit of a sweat. But if you hate the tourists in the bike lane as much as I do, consider he Manhattan Bridge. Or even the Williamsburg Bridge. I really like the span they have. It is architecturally interesting, brightly painted, stickers and social commentary galore for reading while you ride, wide lanes and the incline and decline you’d miss if not on the Brooklyn Bridge.

I know for sure that my sweet affair with the Brooklyn Bridge on wheels is dead. And Middle America and most of Europe killed it…

Trackback Post

Related Posts