Visit to Recyclistas/ Bicycles reign supreme

Hello y'all.  Welcome to the most exciting blog ever.   Over the course of the next ten weeks (with the possibility of an extension or premature termination depending on various circumstances) I will be regaling whoever so chooses to subject themselves with any and all musings which may pass through my head pertaining to how we can all live our lives happily without infringing on others' (including the soon to exist and their offspring) ability be happy.  Special attention will be paid to methods by which people can work together to enhance each other's happiness and learn how not to step on each other's toes, in other words community building.

I would like to open with a story regarding one of my favorite ways of being happy while incurring a very limited amount of others' happiness reduction (ohr), biking!  Biking is by far my preferred mode of transportation.  Unfortunately, due to the vast distance separating my house from my school, I am forced to couple biking with riding the bus, which isn't such a big deal.  When I lived in Montreal I was able to bike to school every day of the year and I'm happy to say I wasn't the only one (although sometimes I secretly selfishly wish I was the only one hardcore enough to brave the elements).  Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) it's very entertaining when people think there are conditions out here which are unsuitable for biking.

One of the best parts about biking is the potential to forge connections with one's surroundings and it's inhabitants.  Just the fact of being completely exposed to everything in one's vicinity allows for greater appreciation of all the constituent objects in this area as well as opportunities to say hello to friendly strangers.  Events like critical mass and the world naked bike ride also bring many diverse individuals together to celebrate low ohr inducing transportation.

For example today I went to Recyclistas, a bike shop which allows you to work on your bike with some well trained direction for a minimal fee.  I'd been to a couple similar operations in Montreal and one in Vancouver but I'd never been to Recyclistas.  It was very similar except that I'd never been to one where I was the only repairee (apparently winter thursdays are slow).  There was the usual couple of bike mechanics working on their eccentric projects and offering help and suggestions whenever they get the chance.  Near the end of my visit a young boy was dropped off by his mother with a bike he'd found. I got the sense that he frequently gets dropped off there as a surrogate for a baby sitter.  

I think community bike shops like this one are an amazing way to bring people together and  help create an alternative to the over consuming, time obsessed status quo.  Learning valuable mechanical skills while meeting like minded individuals are great community building activities.  These shops also often devote one day a week to only admitting female or transgendered individuals in an effort to allow any such people who may be intimidated by domineering male presences and thus expand the spectrum of people who may participate the community building.

Cool gotta go.  See ya next time.