Bike manners, and other things you never forget

[sonia]

Bike manners say that when you see a cyclist changing a flat tire by the side of the road, you ask, "Got everything you need?" and slow down long enough to hear their answer. It's less crucial in the city, but out on country roads you might save someone a loooong walk, or a miserable hour if they don't really know how to fix a flat.

I went shopping at my local coop at about 9pm tonight, and as I was swinging out of the parking lot on my bike, I realized the young woman behind me was wrestling with changing a car tire. I called back, "Got everything you need?"

She hesitated, and asked me if I had done it before. I said yes, and settled in to help. Actually, first I said, "I can stay and help, or leave you to it if you prefer. It's totally up to you." She opted for me to stay. Fortunately it's a nice warm clear night.

My main contribution was standing on the wrench and bouncing to get the lug nuts to loosen, and then just generally providing support and holding my bike light as a flashlight. She was reading the instructions and following them step by step, and would have been fine, except I don't think she was heavy enough to move those lug nuts.

Thing is, it's been something like 20 years since I changed a flat car tire. I remember doing it in 1989 when I'd first moved to California, and I think maybe one other time after that. Haven't owned a car for 12 years, so it's definitely been that long.

But my dad taught me to change car tires when I used to watch/help him do car maintenance as a kid, and I still clearly remember him telling me to tighten alternate lug nuts, not going around the circle in order.

Comments

[tylik]

I carry about half of my bike tools in my "purse", so I've not infrequently had that talk with bicyclists when I've been on foot. But not so far with motorists! (I mean, with motorists when I've been in a car, but that's been a while.)

[sonia]

That's cool! I keep the tools on the bike. But the know-how can still be useful on occasion.

[untonuggan]

That was awesome of you! I still remember the last time I got a flat was on a road trip and my partner had to move all of our luggage to get to the spare, and by the time she had she was able to change the actual tire really quickly. But literally only one car asked us if we needed help, and it was a busy road during the middle of the day. Just having that many people pretend we were invisible was kind of disheartening.

(fun bonus: only POC asked if we were okay.)

[sonia]

Yeah, I can imagine that would be disheartening, even though you had it under control. (Mutters about our culture, and people being in a rush, and not feeling safe, and it's just all broken.)

[jesse_the_k]

You get the virtual gold star!

[sonia]

:-)