Yesterday evening was dark and cool and I was excited to be on my way home and I was looking forward to a nice night with my family and a couple of friends. I was pedaling on Charleston coming up to where I need to take a left onto Rengstorff when it happened. The light ahead was green for those going straight and I didn't want to cross in front of cars heading towards a green light --- not just because I do not want to die but because, hey, it's a green light. I don't really like someone crossing in front of me when I'm trying to clear an intersection. So I am considering my rear view mirror and also looking over my shoulder to gauge when and if the traffic might thin so that I could cross two lanes and get into a third for left turners and this thing happened whose name is:
The Cars See Me Looking Over My Shoulder and Slow Down.
It sounds small, maybe, but really this slowing down is so huge! Those drivers were able to turn their desperate eyes away from that green traffic light long enough to see me, and to think that maybe I needed to get over, and to then silently offer to give me room. I waited until there were fewer cars and then I signalled and made my way across.
It doesn't always happen, this slowing down, this taking notice of me, but it happens more than once a week. In the end it is almost the sum total of what I am asking for from the cars, what I am shouting for, or pleading for or begging for. Look for me, a little. Notice me a tiny bit. See me there on the side of the road and very occasionally, make a space for me.
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