I love welding stores, but they can be a little trippy. There are always products on the shelf from way before I was born (apparently some aspects of melting metal haven’t changed that much) and the inexplicably fashion-forward welding bandanas (da-glo florals and patriotic variations on the theme of eagles). I tend to regard them as places apart from the rest of the world, unburdened by pesky advances in gender equality or merchandising finesse. I usually march in, find my goodies, and leave, no more noticed than the guy in the gorilla costume you didn’t notice because you were busy counting how many times the basketball was passed among the players.
So imagine my surprise, when the welding store clerk engaged me on the topic of bikes. He rides to work when he can, but also drives a truck. He questions whether riding on certain streets is really safe. And few observations of bike/car dialogue later, I felt Portland seeping into the welding store experience. Then he dropped the bombshell: “I really think that these Bike Boxes are a great thing. It’s good that bikes can pull in front of cars so that they can see you, and how you can’t turn on a red. It’s going to be a lot safer…”
Bike love knows no borders. Not in this town, at least.
That’s fantastic…I have been bracing for the driver backlash against bike boxes, and so far, I haven’t heard a peep. In fact, I recently had a cab driver (another profession that often feels like it hasn’t felt the march of time) engage me on them, and like your experience, he thought they were a great thing, even though he wasn’t a cyclist. I have a hunch that maybe the downside for drivers of more visible cycling infrastructure (such as no right turn on red, or more street space given to bikes) is more than made up for by a perceived increase in clarity of who goes where when.
I love these bike boxes! I have never seen one in real life though. Here in Omaha, we barely have enough wheelchair accessible sidewalks, bike lanes aren’t even close to a reality here. Maybe someday we will have bike friendly streets. Until then, I have to claim my lane, and dream of living somewhere bike friendly like Portland.
I am curious what shop you go to? My experience in welding shops and not being in the “trade” has always been hit or miss so i would love to support one that is bike friendly.
You know that classic zen line about how even a dog has the Buddha nature? Well, I am gradually learning that even the welding guy has the bikey nature. What would happen if I approached even the seemingly most unlikely sort as if they were already bike advocates?
And what shop to I go to? Well, I went to United Welding Supply on MLK that day, but I really probably go to most of the welding stores in town every now and then.
Hmmmfff, haven’t heard about this yet. I know a few cities in NE Ohio started dropping bike lanes in everywhere… seems some drivers will just always be idiots, that’s all I have to say on the subject. Now, to go look up bike boxes on the interwebnet thingy :-P
Pretty cool. I was amazed at how nice riding in Portland was. We’re just starting to get lanes in Baltimore. Dunno if the bike box thing would fly here, but the lanes have been nice.