I Love Riding in the City

NAME: Evridiki
LOCATION: Athens, Greece
OCCUPATION: Translator, editor

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in the capital of Greece, Athens. If anyone has ever visited this town, he may know that the traffic is extremely chaotic. Most roads are narrow, drivers (and especially taxi-drivers) stop everywhere and all the time on the road without paying attention to the others. Most drivers are impatient, and don’t pay the proper respect to the ones who are more in danger like motorcyclists or people wtih bicycles. In Athens there aren’t many people who use the bicycle in the city to go to work etc. But in the last 2 years there are more and more people who use a bike. Moreover there are no bicycle-roads. I use my bike every day to go to work. I ride 10 km a day. After work or on weekends I also go for cycling with my friends. When I am on my bicycle I meet different reactions from the people: There are some who laugh at you and think cycling is only for kids; there are others who just don’t pay attention to you with their cars or motorbikes (or the busses) who overtake you passing really close to you blowing their stinky gas fumes in your face; there are others who shout at you as you drive by “You are cool! Keep riding!”; there are others whom you just annoy with your (slow - for them!) speed and they just wanna overtake you. In general you have to be very careful when riding in Athens!!!! You can’t cycle and relax. But I still prefer it from having to use busses, cars etc.! I love it!

What’s been your favorite city to ride in, and why?
Munich, Germany. I lived there one year. Although I didnt like so much the city, it was perfect for cycling (as Germany in general): flat roads, bicycle roads, and many parks where you can go with your bicycle, drive around and then lie on the gras and enjoy!

Why do you love riding in the city?
Cause I am fast (faster than any buss or tram etc), I am free to leave from where I am whenever I want without depending on bus schedules or paying expensive taxis. I love it when the cars are (constantly in this city) stuck and I pass them by with a smile on my face! Haha. I am indeed faster than any fuckin BMW in that case! I love it when the sun shines on my face and the air blows into my face (even with gas fumes sometimes)! Cycling is also a way to contribute to the protection of the environment and stand-up against the mainstream “car-culture”. And after all it is also good exercise for your body!

Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city… Poetry anyone?
Maybe this song from the band ZEGOTA, it is called “Bike Song.” NO! Pedal away from global decay. Every pedal strikes a blow for freedom. Every pedal strikes a blow against global decay What will we sacrifice? What will we sacrifice for life and land? When will we understand that we’re responsible for the environment? What will we justify? Making way for you... It’s not your fault. Don’t know what else to do... Taking the prescribed path, you’ll have to wreck your life. It’s not our fault, we had to wreck our lives. We wreck our lives.