whitebread

I decided to go for a skate today, because it always puts me in a good mood, and work was proving frustrating. Having sufficiently rolled around the pavement on the east bank, I headed for the west bank to see what smooth expanses I could find there. Unfortunately, traffic across the bridge has been severely restricted since they discovered weaknesses that needed repair. Everyone has been forced into a much smaller space. As a result, they have been handing out $80 tickets to anyone who rides, rather than walks, their bicycle across the bridge. There are large signs attesting to this fact, including one that pleads: “Bicycles use covered section so please, walk your bikes”. I was on my skates, so I was pretty sure those rules didn’t apply to me, but I went slowly and carefully to avoid: a. hurting anyone walking and b. drawing attention to myself just in case they were also ticketing skaters.

Once I had had my fill of the west bank, it was time once again to cross the bridge. This time, about half way through two young men with identical bikes and “BIKE PATROL” on their shirts saw me and put their kickstands down. They had been walking their bikes of course, setting good examples. “STOP!” one said authoritatively. Now, I’m all for people not riding their bicycles in areas where people are walking. But skating? Slowly? Come on. “No?” I yelled, pushing hard on my strong leg. You see, I was in a very good mood, The Crystal Method had just come in over my headphones, and I knew there was no way they could catch me. They had not seen me until I was fairly close, so they didn’t have time to block the way before I blew by them, still picking up speed. At this point they had to decide whether to get on their bikes and pursue me, or do something else that wouldn’t break the “walk your bikes” rule. I don’t actually know what they did because my attention was focused in front of me, but I’m pretty sure they never came any closer. A hard left out the propped open door of the covered section, a harder right and another left, up a wheelchair ramp and I was in my building.