Musical ride

Dear Handsome Young Man. Yeah, you. Nice shirt, tight jeans, coiffed hair, a bit of five o’clock shadow, riding your trendy trail bike along the sidewalk on Main Street in Picton on Friday morning. Oh yeah, you dashing devil, you. When I saw you coming, I offered, “Seriously? This is a sidewalk.” Perhaps I offended you, because you told me I should do something I believe anatomically impossible, and probably against the law in several provinces and most of the southern USA. Maybe I shouldn’t have compared you to a body cavity, but I was angry and afraid. I wasn’t afraid for me. I could have hip-checked you and your bike into oncoming traffic. Nope, I was afraid for the folks who might have stepped out of a business entryway and into your path—both of you on a collision course. I was afraid for that woman with her little girl. The little girl who was very sure she’d found the right flutter board in the Giant Tiger bin, not at all aware of you, weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic on your spiffy bicycle. And why should she be aware of you? She was on a sidewalk, after all. I was concerned for all of those pedestrians who weren’t looking your way. I’ve got to admit, you did look the dashing picture of youth and vitality, perhaps on your way to a cafe to enjoy a latte with your friends or a co-worker. Maybe you were on your way to work. Hope you had a great day. Most of the people you passed along your way had no idea how close they came to being seriously hurt because you didn’t think about what could have happened. But don’t listen to me. Just live in your moment.

And that’s it folks. Think about it. When you step out of a business entryway or walk along the sidewalk in this community, watch out for likes of this handsome young man on his bike.

On a more pleasant note, I extend an invitation to Times readers. A meal and music invitation. What are you doing this evening? Yup, this evening—Wednesday, August 27. Why not dig out the brain bucket, hop on your bike and pedal yourself over to Benson Park. The 2014 Tune Your Ride Tour will be making a stop to entertain us with their music. The Tune Your Ride Collective will be performing a bikepowered show from 6 – 8 p.m. This group cycles over 400 kilometres during their summer concert season, carrying with them their instruments, a sound system and all of their personal luggage for eight concerts from Brockville to Toronto. They do this without a saggin’ wagon. The artists, Abigail Lapell, Ben Hermann, Jessica Moore and Great James, are singers, songwriters, musicians and acoustic and sound specialists who just happen to get to their gigs on their bicycles. If you want to make it a meal and music evening, get to Benson Park at 5:30 for the Food Not Bombs free dinner. An evening of great food, great friends and great music—free of charge.

Psst—you could tuck some spare change into your Spandex and make a donation to the Food Not Bombs folks and the Tune Your Ride entertainers. I don’t think a donation would hurt anyone’s feelings. See you there—August 27, Benson Park. Food, fun, music and community.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca