No, really, I'm fine. No, really, I'm fine. No, REALLY, I'm FINE.
People who aren't bike-oriented sometimes have a very hard time understanding that for bike-oriented people, being on the bike is not a hardship.
I went to a party tonight with some work friends and had a very nice time, but did wind up bumping into this.
"Oh, it's so late - you should just put your bike in the back of my vehicle and let me give you a ride home!"
Hey, thanks, but it's cool. I like riding home.
"But it's dark! You shouldn't ride home when it's like this! Put your bike in back and I'll drive!"
Um... thanks, but really, it's not a problem. We've been car-free for four and a half years now. You know what I do when it's dark and I need to get somewhere? I ride my bike.
"This is Oakland. It's just not safe. I'll wait outside the garage while you unlock your bike and you can put it in back."
HNGGANGGNAGGNAAAA!!!! *deep breath* Really, truly, I appreciate your concern for my well-being. It is FINE. I will be FINE. I know where I'm going and how to get there and how to look out for myself on the way. And, in fact, considering it's Friday, after five days of eight-plus hours under the fluorescent lights with people around me all the time, one of the things I look forward to is being able to stop on the way home and spend some time in a deserted park ALL BY MYSELF getting some introvert recharge time.
But I didn't feel like making an issue of it, so I wrestled my bike into the back of a co-worker's minivan and let her give me a ride home.
I am grateful for their concern for my safety, I really am. And I wish I'd gotten to ride home and stop on the way. :-(
I went to a party tonight with some work friends and had a very nice time, but did wind up bumping into this.
"Oh, it's so late - you should just put your bike in the back of my vehicle and let me give you a ride home!"
Hey, thanks, but it's cool. I like riding home.
"But it's dark! You shouldn't ride home when it's like this! Put your bike in back and I'll drive!"
Um... thanks, but really, it's not a problem. We've been car-free for four and a half years now. You know what I do when it's dark and I need to get somewhere? I ride my bike.
"This is Oakland. It's just not safe. I'll wait outside the garage while you unlock your bike and you can put it in back."
HNGGANGGNAGGNAAAA!!!! *deep breath* Really, truly, I appreciate your concern for my well-being. It is FINE. I will be FINE. I know where I'm going and how to get there and how to look out for myself on the way. And, in fact, considering it's Friday, after five days of eight-plus hours under the fluorescent lights with people around me all the time, one of the things I look forward to is being able to stop on the way home and spend some time in a deserted park ALL BY MYSELF getting some introvert recharge time.
But I didn't feel like making an issue of it, so I wrestled my bike into the back of a co-worker's minivan and let her give me a ride home.
I am grateful for their concern for my safety, I really am. And I wish I'd gotten to ride home and stop on the way. :-(