To another group within the group “cycling”, the club riders and racers, the bike is a recreational activity; like hunting, fishing, or…er…umm…Irish road bowling. The problem here is, seeing the bike as a pastime and the paved road a playing field has with it inherent contradictions to the motor-dominated status quo, no?

As a recreational cyclist, you’re not out there trying to get anywhere, or go someplace in particular; you’re just trying to get some miles in, work off the bear claw you ate for breakfast***, and catch up on a weeks worth of gossip with your buddies. Many rides, whether organized events or off the cuff fartlek style, are very social occasions…and when harassed by an automobile in this social context, it feels like someone just streaked the pitch and stole the game ball before security could lay on a good tackle. Party-pooper. And from the driver’s perspective, seeing someone constantly playing in the office when you’re trying to get down to the business of work has got to be akin to a good slap in the face. Socialist pig.

But stepping back and seeing both sides here, one group seeing the road as a utility and another seeing it as recreational…you can really see how this dichotomy adds to the competitive roots of the conflict…we are after all, whether we realize it or not, competing over road space.

***Because you have the self control of a starving dog you chubby bastard…ah, self-deprecating humor is so fun.