Hello you, female driver of a late−model sedan full of college friends driving down Highland Avenue into Davis Square at around 9 p.m. last Friday night. This is the angry bicyclist from the group of two you found yourself to be "stuck" behind, and I figured this would be the best way to contact you.
This isn't the first time I've been commanded to use the sidewalk by motorists in the roadway, but something about the way you twice implored me to get out of your way, something about your wanton assumption that the roadways are solely for cars really just rubbed me the wrong way, and, rather than engaging in a constructive dialogue about road sharing, I just responded by blurting out raw obscenity. I was surprised by my knee−jerk"F−−k you!" and middle−finger response, and I immediately regretted it, as it does nothing to foster understanding between users of a shared public resource — rather, it promotes antagonism — but I guess I've been harboring a lot of anger on the subject. Because I'm generally a proponent of the "anger−bad, communication−good" school of thought, I thought I'd use this venue to start a conversation on this issue.
The fact of the matter is that cities are densely populated areas, and for reasons of congestion alleviation, air quality improvement and increasing community and livability, means of transportation other than cars, such as trains and bicycles, are integral to the functioning of a desirable city. Living in an awesome community makes life so much more rewarding and enjoyable; Tufts wouldn't be what it is if it weren't near Davis Square and Boston. The law (MGLc.90 § 14) goes as far as to codify the roadway as a shared public space that all vehicles, both motorized and human−powered, are allowed to use. It basically seeks to make the roads a safe, usable route for all, allowing for cars to share the roads with streetcars — for example, some sections of the Green Line — and bicycles alike.
In the interest of keeping the area a cool place to be, let's learn to share a bit and enjoy the road together. And hey, if you wanted to, next time you could try getting to where you want to go on a bicycle, too! It's not just for Lance Armstrong−types — anyone can do it. If you don't have a bicycle of your own, Tufts has its own free bike share in Tufts Bikes, and you can also rent from Boston's Hubway at a reasonable rate. And after taking out a bike a few times, you might even find that you like it. Just saying.
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