We live in a leafy suburb of Buenos Aires, very close to the Rio de la Plata (River Plate), and opposite us is an excellent cycle path that is used by both cyclists and pedestrians alike. Every weekend, I would see hundreds of cyclists zooming past our front door, and for years told myself that I should be doing something similar, especially being the wrong side of 60. So, in December, I bought myself a bicycle, and now I ride around 20 km each day and sometimes more along the coast. On weekends and public holidays, the cycle path is packed with cyclists and others enjoying the sunshine. However, most cyclists get a bad rap for being inconsiderate, but in my experience, it works both ways. Having walked the cycle path with my wife many times, I would often curse cyclists for zooming past us without warning, with inches to spare, and on a couple of occasions, nearly colliding with us. So, having seen this from both sides, I fitted a mirror and a bell to my bike – two of the most useful accessories I added, or at least I thought so at the time.
It’s The Pedestrians, Stupid!
Even when my wife and I went for walks along the coast, I only took my phone along for photo opportunities. In fact, if I had a tiny camera, I would take that instead and leave the phone at home because, for me anyway, the joy of a stroll or whatever outdoor activity is being disconnected from the chains that bind us to our cell phones. Neither would I ever wear headphones or ear buds for that Spotify experience because I’d rather hear what’s going on around me and especially behind me. Which brings me to pedestrians and the reason I fitted a bell to the bike in the first place. When walking, I would often comment that cyclists should at least ring a bell when approaching us from behind, so we could step aside and let them pass. Some do, some don’t, and I often pondered the idea of fitting a rear-view mirror to my shoulder to see if a cyclist was approaching!
But now I’m a cyclist, I see things differently, and it’s quite an eye-opener. Bearing in mind that our average walking speed is around 3mph (5kmh) and a cyclist rides at around 12mph (20kmh), and more, so cyclists approach pedestrians very fast, which is why I ring my bell well in advance. However, with the majority of walkers wearing headphones or ear buds, they will never hear my bell, so I have to come to a crawl to safely move past them. I should add that, to those who do hear me and move aside, I always thank them, sometimes even in English, just for the hell of it. I should mention here that English is very widely spoken in Argentina, and very often people reply with a, you’re welcome!
Yes, We Are Slaves To Our Phones!
Let me just say that everyone is free to do what they like with their phones, earbuds, and headphones, but in cities like Buenos Aires, personal security is taken very seriously. Heck, there are even police panic buttons dotted around Greater Buenos Aires, so it’s a good idea to know what’s going on around you, not to block out the environment and, more importantly, potential threats. And don’t get me started on motorists texting and driving – is that message or Instagram reel so important that you’re prepared to risk someone else’s life with no hands on the wheel? Or the pedestrian who crosses a busy road without even taking their eyes off their phone? Believe me, in astonishment I’ve seen that one loads of times. But back to cycling, where on my daily run I usually ride past familiar faces glued to their phones as they stroll along. Of course, they could actually be working, using the fresh air and sunshine as their outdoor office, so good for them. However, most are oblivious to their surroundings, even when walking towards me, and my tiny bell is clearly not loud enough to penetrate the shell they’ve created, so I often have to shout at them in rudimentary Anglo-Saxon.
Yes, cyclists do get a bad rap, and in spite of the fact that we all have to share the same space, pedestrians leave a lot to be desired, which is why I’ll now be buying the loudest klaxon I can get my hands on.
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