Fall triking has been great in the neighborhoods!
A couple of weeks ago I was triking along to a job near 50th and Minnehaha. Near 49th and Du Pont, I spotted something no car driver could see amoung some leaves out in the street: a shiny new Volvo key, attached to one of those electronic security devices people use to lock, unlock, and "secure" their cars. Another key -- a housekey -- was also attached. I took time to check with a couple of joggers and dogwatchers and even knocked at the door of a house with a Volvo in the driveway. No luck finding the keys owner.
To make a long story short, I contacted Borton Volvo. Nothing on the keyring could identify the owner, they said. They took my name and number in case someone called. The service guy told me that the owner would be glad to get them back, as those security things are a bit pricey to replace.
The long and short of it: I took time to print out fliers and posted them in the area. A few days later, a call came. I rode over to the owners house and hand delivered those keys to the door!
Ahhh, the neighborhood benefits of having someone drive a worktrike in town!
This evening, I triked up to Rainbow foods in Uptown to make a few grocery purchases for my family. I headed West on Lake Street from Grand Avenue. Approaching Du Pont, the cars were backed up bumper-to-bumper. Mostly one or two people per car. I rode on to explore the cause of the traffic jam. It looks like it was a "theatre rush" crowd. People were pulling into parking lots and heading for theatre doors in Uptown. One or two people per car, stacked up like cans of Spam on a store shelf easily outpaced by a guy on a tricycle.
I thought about how odd it is that folks use dangerous vehicles that weigh (hopefully) at least 10 or 20 times what they do to get around so much. My trike carries about 6 times its own weight at human scale speeds, posing no threat to pedestrian, biker, or car. It is the safest, most versatile vehicle on the city neighborhood streets, bar none.
After getting groceries I cruised westward on 29th over to Hennepin Avenue and turned South. Along the way, as I usually do, I made eye contact with drivers and pedestrians alike, smiling and saying hello. Amazing how many smiles and friendly greetings were returned with the same, and sometimes a thumbs up. People sitting in cars looked trapped and feeble, withering away or turning to blobs while I pedaled gently along. I felt at one with sky, wind, and neighborhood, while these folks were imprisoned in vehicles that -- when overused -- rob us of vital perspective which comes from connection with the earth, each other, and with the needs of our own bodies.
I rode home looking forward to my third consecutive winter triking through Minneapolis. Human-powered bikes and trikes simply cannot be beat for safety, health benefits, fun, and connectedness to earth and others. Whether I am returning keys or helping poor carbound folks getting unstuck from snow and ice, I intend to do my part to make this city a better place. I invite you to join me!
(Yes, those silly, big car-things get stuck all the time. They are much too difficult to manage in the snow and ice we sometimes get. More bikers and trikers are really needed out there just to help those poor carbound folks! )
Well, happy weekend! Appreciate those year-round bikers and trikers when you see them. It just may be your keys or wallet that gets returned next!
-- Gary Hoover
King Field
