The Lone Rider

For the last two weeks, the thing that I have really enjoyed the most is riding my mountain bicycle throughout the dark and lonesome streets/sidewalks of Hamtramck. I've had the pleasure of seeing/witnessing things and events that others would miss if they used drove a vehicle instead. Sure, Hamtramck may be a small city, but there is so much hidden and things to see that has truly amazed and inspired me. How many of us can say that they stopped in the middle of the road and looked at the descending sunset? Not many of us since we are always tied up doing something that we aren't able to enjoy the beauty that the nature provides us.

The main reason that I love riding my bicycle is because of the freedom that I have. When I'm riding, it feels like I am all alone in the city, and that everyone else does not exist. I can't be bothered, I can't be touched. People have to move for me so they don't get hit, I get respected and feared at the same time. There is also a beauty when I'm riding my bicycle. The way I move side to side, it's almost hypnotic. It's like a beautiful dance, I make everyone stop in their tracks and watch me move, watch me sway.

Another great thing about riding the bicycle is the people you see. Every day, I will see at least a couple of people who I recognize, with whom I have went to school with, and with those that I spoken to in the past. Their faces bring back joyful memories, not always, depending on who I see. Today I was riding my bike and girl from my school waved at me, we didn't know each other that well, but we both knew each other. It brought a smile to my already relaxed face, and I proceeded to ride on wherever the I pedaled and steered, that's where I would head.

Yes, I do worry about my safety at times, I ride without a helmet. I wish I had one, even though I rarely see people wearing it, it's nice to feel protected. And yes, it does look silly, for anyone who thinks it's not cool to wear one, is a fool. I sometimes take it to the streets instead of the sidewalk, just so that my tires can feel the smooth pavement. Yes, the sidewalks are much more fun, and safe if I may add, due to bumps and such. However, the sidewalks also possess a lot of glasses by people who have thrown glass bottles on the sidewalks so that they can shatter into a millions of pieces. Those people have no decency or respect for others, safety, or laws where it prohibits littering.

Riding my bicycle, I am just awed by some of the hidden beauties my city has. Then, there are times that I wish I didn't ride my bike, or wish I had taken another route. For instance, I was riding on the Belmont Street, and maybe 20 meter ahead of me I saw a mother and her child. The mother placed the small girl is some sort of, I don't know how you call it, to help her walk. The little girl seemed to be maybe two or three years old, and should be able to walk on her own. However, as I approached closer, what I saw really crushed and hurt my heart. The little child wasn't healthy, I believe she may have had a serious case of Cerebral Palsy. She looked so helpless, so fragile, yet, so broken.

The mother turned and looked at me for a quick second, she looked at me with a dead face. A face so sad, that it was dry because all the tears had already been shed. Here I was riding my bike whereas the little girl probably will never feel the great joy that I feel. Seeing that little girl just made me realize how unhealthy this world truly is. How no one is really born healthy, everyone has a side effect or some fault. It also has made me realize how fortunate I am to be more complete than her. How a person like that could live, to be trapped within his or her body is a mystery to me. If that was me, disabled to such extent, I would love to be put out of misery. Living life trapped is not living life at all; there is no joy, only internal suffering.

Every day that I ride my bike, I see many fellow bicyclists enjoying themselves, having the wind blow through their hair and experiences the joys one can have only riding a bike. The one thing that I have observed is that the older ones tend to be the most friendliest. They will smile at you or wave, each with his or her own way. It saddens me that there aren't enough of us roaming the streets. Bicycles aren't expensive. They will cost around $100.00 and up, depending on the quality and brand you desire. Plus, they are very good for the environment, pollutant-free, like any of us really care. I really wish more people would get out and ride a bike, it just would be amazing to see streets filled with fellow bike riders. We wouldn't need to use the sidewalks since there wouldn't be many automobiles. And the impact on the environment would be tremendously positive. The amount of money we could save on gas would be shocking, we would get in better shape, and we would be more closer to one another. You can't really be close to another while you are in a car.

With the rising gas prices, I can expect more people will use bicycles to move around short distances. Bicycles will never be able to replace automobiles, but they are a great alternative to use during the summer to travel within a short area, working out, or just sight seeing. What will I see tomorrow? I have no idea. But whatever I do, I'm going to keep on riding, and that's for sure. For I am the Lone Ride. I ride alone, with no one to accompany me by my side. I reign the sidewalks, like an outlaw walking towards the sun, a memory edged into your soul.


"All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces."
- Gary Jules : Mad World