I was drawn to punk rock in the early 80s. For me, it was the music that drew me in. I did not dress or act like a typical punk. I loved the loud music, its fast beat, and chaotic noise.
I loved the DIY nature of punk rock. Need to get your band out there? Just find a kid with a 4-track and record. Then make the covers through a process of cut-and-past (with real scissors and glue) and some time on a school photocopier when no one was looking and you were golden. It was an age of relying on yourself for what you needed. There were no limits except those that individuals placed on themselves.
So where am I going with this? I see similarities between the cultures of punk rock and riding a bike. But first, back to the punk rock.
Most of my friends, did not share my love for the music. So it was just me. In time that changed. A few of my friends went to a concert or two, but more importantly, I found people already in the scene that shared similar life beliefs. It was at this point that I went from being me, to being part of a group.
But as soon as I did, I started to see the inconsistencies. The contradictions were obvious and plentiful, but it seemed like those in the group ignored the contradictions, patting themselves on the back for being there first and able to bend the rules. This usually involved calling out someone else’s faults while ignoring their own.
This is a rant. I am sorry for that, but I had to do it. At least I will have put it out there. I have been tossed back some of these ideas with various bloggers and tweeters and it seems like I am not the only one with this sentiment.
Back to Tacoma. I decided that the punk rock culture had good music and a message, but I distanced myself from its culture. I guess I decided I did not want to earn the Punk Points necessarily to belong. When the group, or sub-group, gets too small, the individuals lose their ability to make flexible decisions. They are tied to the original tenants of the group regardless of how the rules play out in practice.
I feel the same thing with biking in Portland. It’s a game. But instead of Punk Points, there are Bike Points.
I found a group of like-minded individuals. Need to get somewhere? Take a bike. Most of the places you go, a bike is suitable, if not superior. I met wonderful people, hung out with great families, and went to some superb bike events. These were all positive. Yet, lurking in the shadows there was always something more.
There is a hierarchy in the bike community. This is a result of being human, the desire to compartmentalize, organize, label, and place in a spectrum. I found this part of the community to be saddening.
I know a number of people who have pulled themselves out of some of the bike groups due to the over-zealous nature which ignores the obvious contradictions, but promotes themselves as God’s gift to the city.
When people make statements like, “I have not driven a car in 2 years” it sounds almost like an AA meeting. “Hi, my name is Travis….It has been 2 years since I have owned a car.” Does this mean that the person has not driven a car, at all, for 2 years, specifically 730 days? If so, cool. Do buses or trains or plains count? Or is their use different? There must be some algorithm to this. If anyone has insight into this, please send the flow chart my way. Thanks.
What about riding in a car? Is that okay? Can you touch a car and still be considered hardcore by bikies? I don’t know. What I do know is that when my son broke his wrist last year, I was not going to transport him to the ER by bike. But maybe I should have in order to maintain my street cred.
To make others suffer because of my decisions…I am still struggling with that one. For something like, biking home in the rain from school with my kids, them getting cold and doused, that’s fine. We agreed on this. It is doable.
What I am seeing this year is a certain pleasure in being a marginalized group, but a self-promoting marginalized group, like punk rockers. I am sure I am going to get some hate mail due to this, but be sure to delivery it on bike, for otherwise it will have traveled on car. Sure, I applaud your lifestyle. I have absolute respect for you and how you are making Portland a better place. I like that you don’t own a car. I am not critiquing you or your bike that was transported by truck to the local bike shop. What I am doing is pointing out what I find odd about this group that you and I share.
I wonder if this exists in other countries where biking is popular, not a marginalized activity. I wonder if people in Amsterdam see a bike as a vehicle or lifestyle symbol.
One more thing, unless your bike was made entirely within the city of Portland, out of parts made in Portland and shipped by bike, with a frame of home grown bamboo, and no parts connected to the petroleum industry, then, and only then, can you claim to be the hardest of hard core bicyclists. Oh yeah, the beer you drink (and the bottles) must also come from Portland. Otherwise, there is a car involved in the cycle. If you are the aforementioned bamboo riding bikenaut, it is to you, that I raise my glass. You now have 5 Bike Points.
The first Tweed ride in Portland, OR occurred today. In many ways, it looked like a typical grey Portland Saturday with Veloculture types riding around. However, the difference was the number. Today there were over 100 well dressed ladies and gents riding around Portland. This included well dressed tots as you can see in the photo to the left. 
