I Love Riding in the City

NNAME: Matthew Silvey
LOCATION: Clarksville, TN
OCCUPATION: Student/former retail whore.
 
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Clarksville, TN. The city has a lot to offer. We’ve got urban riding, rural club rides, big hills, long flats, mountain biking. What we don’t have is a real bike friendly town.
 
What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
I rode with some friends in Nashville. You would think being a country music town it wouldn’t be bike friendly, but Nashville is pretty progressive. They have bike lanes and greenways and an all around good attitude.
 
Why do you love riding in the city?
I like riding in the city because I feel true freedom. I can cruise or race downtown and it affects no one but me. My bike produces no noise or pollution. Attitude, however, is given freely. You get too close and you get lots of profanities. It exciting, and it makes me feel like I did when I was 10.
 
Or just say whatever you want…
It is said, “Revolution begins with one individual.” That gives me hope that one day we will be riding down the road and be passed by a car and say, “Man, I haven’t seen a car in years.” 

Photo by Willie Bailey, www.thebicyclecenter.com

NAME: Mike P
LOCATION: Honolulu, Hawaii
OCCUPATION: Social Detox Counselor

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu. During the day we have our aray of spandex triathletes and fitness freaks pedaling around. There are way too many cars for an island of 609 square miles and over a million people. The city is totally not behind bicycles. They build bike routes that go into chainlink fences. On the other hand its in the 80’s year round.

What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Honolulu, Hawaii. It’s 80 degrees year round. From my apartment I can ride XC, DH/FR, ride my fixie (there is an old cement velodrome in Aala Park) and the beach is a short pedal away...

Why do you love riding in the city?
I like to play in traffic. I hate stop lights. The cars sit in traffic and I can go right by. One day I realized that it takes me the same amount of time to get to work in car as it does on a bike. The city of Honolulu is like a race track.

Or just say whatever you want…
“I go to work because I know I get to ride my bike home...”