I AM. Sorry

In 2006, there was a very popular ad campaign by Molson breweries with the tag line "I AM. CANADIAN"

As a result, the title of this post will mean a little more to Canadians than others. There's another stereotype about Canadians, the one saying that we are extremely polite, to the point of being ready to apologize at the drop of a hat. Being characterized as an extraordinarily civil and conciliatory people sits fine with me, and in this sense it would seem that I am a true Canadian:

I hope you enjoyed my video. If not, please accept my deepest apologies. I will endeavour to do better next time!

Was that too much? Sorry, eh.

R A N T W I C K

Bicycle Commuting: Good, Bad, Good, Bad, Good. Bad.

You know, on any given bicycle commute you'll share the road with all kinds. One recent ride had a complete mix of road users; I saw a good driver, a stupid cyclist, a pedestrian, an idiotic driver and a cyclist who seemed to know what they were doing, in that order, on a single 6 km commute!

Hearing the distinctive click of a brake lever behind me out in the thru lane where it belonged, combined with the unique-to-cycling opportunity to say good morning and warn my fellow rider about my next moves redeemed the whole ride somehow, leaving me relatively happy instead of definitely pissed about having to share the road with a bunch of morons and nutcases.
 

Yer Pal,

R A N T W I C K
 

Toronto Cyclist Killed in Altercation

Wow, this one is going to get some serious attention, since the driver may have been a figure of note. See article here. As usual, my advice is to beware the comments section of this article. Just don't engage. The people who put up the craziest and most stupid comments are not worth your time. Please remember that crazy stuff like this is the exception, not the rule. You are as safe or more safe on a bike than you are in a car.

Let's also remember that if every fatality suffered in cars was reported in the news, there would be no time for any other kind of news, and we would all be scared witless of driving.

Pet Peeve: Is there ever an incident in which somebody doesn't automatically call for more bike lanes? There are almost no details available on the incident at this time, but the bike lane mantra can't wait on some silly old facts, it would seem.

Keep it alert yet calm, and nobody gets hurt.

R A N T W I C K