{"id":894,"date":"2006-06-22T12:15:57","date_gmt":"2006-06-22T16:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingtoronto.ca\/?p=894"},"modified":"2006-06-22T12:15:57","modified_gmt":"2006-06-22T16:15:57","slug":"flower-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2006\/06\/22\/flower-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Flower Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

One of the best things about cycling in the city — besides it being fast, cheap, healthful, environmentally friendly, freeing and fun — is that it is a social<\/a> activity.<\/p>\n

A month or so ago, I struck up a conversation with a fellow bike rider at the set of ring and post stands outside\u00a0my office. I complimented her on the flowers she had woven in her baskets. She complimented me on my \u00e2\u20ac\u0153not your bitch\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sticker. I told her it was from a ‘zine called Bitter Pie<\/a> and that I had only put it there in a fit of nostalgia, thinking about my last bike, which was covered in stickers.<\/p>\n

She pointed out her \u00e2\u20ac\u0153stealing bikes is bad karma\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sticker amidst the faux flowers.<\/p>\n

I said the flowers must give her good karma on the road. I figured they must do something to encourage a more chilled-out vibe from cars. I mean, surely, a driver wouldn’t speed up behind and honk in rage at someone whose bike is covered in daisies and bluebells?<\/p>\n

Naturally, a conversation ensued about the abundance of aggressive drivers in the city and what other useful anger management techniques could be employed whilst cycling. We both sing songs, for example. I suggested a few choruses of Dennis Leary’s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Asshole\u00e2\u20ac\u009d could do wonders for the nerves.<\/p>\n

A younger woman that was with her, giggled and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh you two\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and that she thought we were \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hilarious\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. Clearly, not a cyclist, I thought.<\/p>\n

Then, on the first day of bike week<\/a>,\u00a0the day of the TTC wildcat strike and the second smog alert<\/a> of the year for Toronto, something happened that restored my faith in humankind, just a little.<\/p>\n

When I went out for lunch, I saw her bike, in all its flowery glory, locked next to mine. As I got closer the floral spray seemed to spread across the bikes and then I noticed she had attached some of the decorative flowers to my basket. She had chosen some very neutral greenish-brown springs (that actually look a bit like pot leaves) for my bike. Good choice!<\/p>\n

I love little kooky acts of kindness like this. Such a small gesture of cyclist camaraderie has had a big effect on my attitude.<\/p>\n

Now, if someone cuts me off and yells at me to “get off the road”, I blow a kiss instead of giving them the finger.<\/p>\n

photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the best things about cycling in the city — besides it being fast, cheap, healthful, environmentally friendly, freeing and fun — is that it is a social activity. 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