Publisher's Statement
The “I Love Riding in the City” department is my baby. In a sense it defines not only this magazine, but the entire urban bicycling culture that we’re all a part of. Because despite the vast differences between all of us—physically, mentally, culturally, spiritually—we’re bonded by the common desire to ride bikes in our urban environment.
After twenty issues, you would think that I may have grown bored of sorting through all of the submissions. The truth is, I’m still happy every time another one turns up in my inbox. And sometimes the correspondence transcends the ordinary Q&A format and deserves special attention, such is the case with the following passage sent in by Ryan Alexander of Ft. Lauderdale, FL:
About a month ago, during our group ride my friend and coworker was hit by a motorist and broke her back. The result is unemployment, surgery, and further lessons from the city of, “This is what happens when you ride on the road.”
There are an ever-increasing, brave few who continue to ride our streets day in and day out. A group that uses their bikes for transportation, for community, for tricking, for polo and for the fun of it. The result has been at least 12 people I see everyday heading to the local shop and picking up a bike or two.
The days of using your bike for solely one purpose (be it transportation or polo or one of the several others) are coming to an end. Our weather is gracious enough to let us ride our bikes year round. What a blessing!
If the safety of cyclists becomes an issue that is addressed, more people would ride. If the cops would stop telling cyclists to get off the road every time they pass one, more people would stay on the road. If a mother of two can safely ride around town and not have her back broken, chances are her children will do the same.
Well said, Ryan. Well said.
Above: Self-portrait with the family. Photo by Crystal Ruiz-Mills, www.cruizphotography.com. Readers can donate to the Crystal Ruiz-Mills relief fund by visiting www.southfloridafixed.com.
Urban Velo issue #20, July 2010. Dead tree print run: 5000 copies. Issue #19 online readership: 55,000+