A View from my Handlebars


This was a view from my handlebars on my way to work this morning; I was at a traffic signal at this corner. There's a lot going on in this picture. There were a group of guys doing something where they had to take up the sidewalk (pavements to my friends in the EU). I'm not sure what they are doing but whatever it is they were doing it to the opposite corner yesterday. You can see the guy in the lower left...he's the one creating all the smoke with a concrete saw; it was loud. The group on the right were discussing loudly--arguing--over how to do something. And there's the guy in the center who just finished fueling his car at the petrol station behind them. I'm not sure if he is looking at me--sitting on a bike taking his/their picture, or if he is looking at all the activity as I am. Incidentally, the gas at this satation was $4.13 US/gl this morning...I know that's not a lot to other parts of the world, but it sure has people squawking around here. But what you, the reader of this blog, cannot see, is the car to my direct left and adjacent to me. A man in a suit in the driver's seat who appeared to be about my age and looking bored (I of course, have no idea what this man was thinking or feeling, obviously I'm projecting). And when I looked over and saw him it made me remember. It made me remember how grateful I was to be on a bike--out in the elements with the sites, smells, and feeling of wind on my face. This morning I was heading into another stressfull day at work and already a few minutes late, but this respite--however brief--really made for a nice beginning to my day. And this is what I was thinking as I sat on my bike on a chilly Spring morning looking over my handlebars.

Urban Simplicity.

Comments

Unknown said…
This is a really cool street shot Joe. Reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting for some reason, but more surreal and dystopian.
Joe said…
Thanks James!