Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits,  Transportation

The Bicyclist

Bicyclist
Bicyclist

Simple. Fuel efficient. Healthy. Many think of bicycles as an older way of transportation. Even though we have riders who commute to work on their bicycles, many people ride for exercise or sport rather than an alternative to their cars. Fuel prices are high, incomes are going down or even going away in some cases. Our highways are congested, structurally needing repairs and frustrating. Is the bicycle a thing of the past or something for the present?

Retired. Having fun with photography. Journal daily. Meditate daily. Learning haiku. Have a love for fountain pens.

9 Comments

  • QPB

    Nice capture, and I like the black and white. Pretty nonchalant and confident, riding a bike with headphones on! My luck, someone would be talking on their cell phone and run me down–and I’d never hear them! Seriously wish we could all be a little greener and do more bicycling to and from work. We’d be healthier for it. There is so much traffic in many areas, getting out there on a bicycle anywhere but where there is a designated path is risky and daunting. Cars have little to no patience with being green, I’m afraid.

  • Earl

    In places like Portland, OR, where there have been infrastructure changes made specifically for bicyclist it’s a much safer proposition.

    In my home town it’s not possible without taking your life in your own hands, for all the reasons QPB listed. I wish it was different as I loved riding.

    I’d have to get one with a basket, like the gentleman in this photo, so I could carry my camera gear. 😉

  • Earl

    Monte..Good idea, or even a small photo backpack would probably work well.

    I don’t know that the audio headsets the gentleman in the photo is wearing would be very safe–you couldn’t hear them coming. But maybe he just rides on the sidewalks? 🙂

  • QPB

    You have to admit, he doesn’t seem too concerned about it! He looks to be just about as relaxed as you can get.

    Earl, Portland is on my list of places to visit. I love Seattle and almost made the trip from there last year. Another day. Next week, I have to go to Los Angeles. I will be hiding in my hotel room from smog and crowds. Lol.

    ps, I have a pretty comfy Lowepro waistpack that carries the lensed camera and two additional lenses. It might work on a bike as well.

    Have a good weekend all!

  • Thomas

    …should be a thing for the future, most likely will be. We only need to overcome the current obstacles, from safety issues and missing infrastructure to the every increasing distance between our places of work and the places where we live.

    And biking can be so relaxing, as your shot pictures. BTW, works perfectly in B&W!

  • Paul

    Bicycling would be great in areas that aren’t prone to 100 degree temps in the summer and 120+ degree heat indexes. Also, if you’re going to ride to work, it’d be nice if the workplace provided showers! 🙂

    Safety and infrastructure would be of primary concerns. We need a place to ride that isn’t overrun with impatient drivers talking on their cell phones while eating a burger and applying makeup!