Last night I had the pleasure of sharing the road with this particular cyclist. I’ve seen her riding downtown a few times. She carries a toddler-age boy in the back rack of her cargo bike. He sits on the platform, no belts or straps. She doesn’t ride ‘downtown fast’, but she rides with expert skill. She talks to him constantly, and they manage to have civil conversations among all the sounds of engines, horns, sirens, construction, buskers, etc. Some conversations I’ve overheard:
Cyclist: “Which way should we go, bud?”
Kid: “Dexter!”
C: “OK! Are you warm enough?”
K: “No I’m cold!”
C: “OK, let me get out your sweater. OK, put your arm through. I going to throw it at you if the light turns green. You’re going to have to hold onto it. Can you do that?”
K: “Yeah!”
C: “Other arm! Look we did it!”
K: “You are masterful!”
C: (giggles) “Aw, thank you!...Hold on! Here come the bumps!”
K: “Yay_y_y_y!”
C: “Did you get a drink? Is your tea still warm?”
K: “Got a drink, but it’s cold.”
C: “Wow, I’m surprised.”
K: “But it’s still tea!”
C: (chuckles) “That’s right! It’s still tea!”
It makes my day to listen to them having such a nice time. It’s also great to ride behind her, because the traffic parts like the red sea around her. Clearly no car wants to get anywhere near a bike holding a tiny bobbling helmet with little feet sticking out. Still, considering how terrified I am just trying to get myself home, I can’t imagine how she keeps so calm carrying such precious cargo.