Biking and Honking

Biking around DC is easy and enjoyable. After class today I rode across the Key Bridge, had Hunan broccoli at my favorite cheapo Chinese eatery (Hunan Express), then rode several miles up the Capital Crescent Trail that follows the Potomac River. The paved trail also parallels the old C&O Canal. These are busy trails, especially the Crescent Trail near Georgetown and Georgetown University. This upscale part of DC is full of healthy exercisers that jog, bike and rollerblading on this trail in the early evening. Just like the streets of DC there is a significant portion of these bikers that think the object is to go as fast as possible and race by as close as possible without ripping the flesh off the rest of us.

I think Washingtonians could do with a little quiet time - internally and externally. So many of them are so obviously stressed out and angry and ready to take it out on anyone that gets in their way. Honking car horns are an everpresent part of the environment in DC. Well, maybe its a good thing. If these characters didn't get a chance to vent their spleen by honking at normal people who knows what they might do to the rest of us when they faced a real crisis. I'm just glad they haven't put horns on bikes yet.