Go Forth

Graduation season is always an interesting time here in the heart of the Brown U. and RISD ghetto. During exam week, the tension amongst the students on the hill is palpable; followed by the giddy intoxicated release which signals the start of summer vacation; and climaxes during graduation weekend when parents and grandparents spend half of their day looking for a better parking space; and then there is silence until September.
Congratulations to all of those who ran the gauntlet. You're not necessarily a better person than you were when you started, but you're worth more. Good luck with that.

World Cup in the House

After months of promise and rumor its official: the UCI has finally signed a contract with local promoters to schedule a Cyclocross World Cup event this coming October. This is a great honor because after having hosted the US National races for the past two years, Providence was chosen to be the first US event in recent history to draw European pros. Needless to say, we here at the Hub are extremely excited to host our friends from across the pond. In fact, tonight I am going home to brush up on my Flemish. I trust, you will be doing the same.

Bike To Work Day

Bike to Work Day is Friday May 18. Come down to the park across the street from the Biltmore Downtown. There will be refreshments and a speaking schedule from 7-9ish. Check it out
To get into the spirit(s), come on down to the HUB thursday from 5-8pm. We are proud to be hosting the RI Environmental Society's Thirsty Third Thursday which is a monthly social gathering that meets at various locations around town. There will be refreshments and environmental types to talk bikes, biodiesel or beach erosion. See you there.

It takes a village...

I'm a city cat, but one of the most enviable elements of country living is that when people see each other while they are walking or as they pass in their cars, they tend to greet each other in the way that is customary to the local culture. My own experience is from Vermont. In Vermont, if you're on a country road approaching another car, the local custom is a lift of the fingers off the top off the steering wheel as you pass. Its a subtle gesture requiring minimal effort, but the effect warms the heart, and certainly can't help but maintain the foundation of a strong community.

In the city, often we forget to maintain such a basic foundation of community - probably because we feel more anonymous, and the population here is more transient that your typical rural town. While I can understand why the steering wheel wave would grow tiresome on the busy streets of Providence, there's nothing worse than walking by another human (within inches say) without even the most minimal recognition that the other exists. Unfortunately, it happens all the time.

When I ride my bike around town and see other cyclists, I try to at least make eye contact and throw out a nod. Of course, sometimes it's not always returned, but if eye contact is made I feel that there are other people out there and who know I'm out there; and that makes being on bicycle in 2007 America a notch less lonely.