tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post683087934134832223..comments2024-03-18T23:52:31.939-04:00Comments on The Invisible Visible Man: Miserable subway passengers, a grouchy runner - and a lesson from Bob DylanInvisible Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-47030886154975020382014-04-15T10:39:24.846-04:002014-04-15T10:39:24.846-04:00John,
I half agree with you on this, particularly...John,<br /><br />I half agree with you on this, particularly after I had a taxi driver honk at me pointlessly last night in Chinatown as I rode home.<br /><br />But I can't help feeling there would eventually be some unintended consequence.<br /><br />Future headline: "Driver failed to warn blind pedestrian 'for fear of waking baby', Court hears."<br /><br />There is no doubt, however, that it would be nice if drivers could learn to be aware of how futile an act of aggression honking normally is.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-76169387455325871902014-04-14T10:42:07.227-04:002014-04-14T10:42:07.227-04:00Although only indirectly linked to your post, I ha...Although only indirectly linked to your post, I have often thought how much more civilised our streets would be if vehicle horns were legally required to sound as loudly inside the vehicle as outside. With such a simple change, much of the detached arrogance encouraged by tinted windscreens, multi-speaker sound systems, and metal bodywork would melt away. johnrawlinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05483219429357988683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-8680610393044977332014-04-09T07:40:47.724-04:002014-04-09T07:40:47.724-04:00South Lakes,
There are few current trends in urba...South Lakes,<br /><br />There are few current trends in urban and suburban traffic more irritating than runners' delusion that they belong in bike lanes. I suppose the tendency shows that lots of people want relatively quiet, straight routes, but I wish people wouldn't do it. I hate having to pull out round obstructions in the bike lane.<br /><br />This definitely happens here in New York City as well. One time recently, having had to pull out round a couple of runners on the bike lane on Hoyt Street in Gowanus, I got into a brief discussion which led to man's getting abusive with me. I then tried out the line I've stored up for such situations, turned to the woman runner and said, "You know, the thing is you look like you could do much better than him."<br /><br />Next time, I'll have a rejoinder ready for the reply, "Actually, she's my sister".<br /><br />May your bike lanes be unobstructed.<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-63962118902875198022014-04-08T21:50:44.855-04:002014-04-08T21:50:44.855-04:00On my way home today, in suburban DC, there was a ...On my way home today, in suburban DC, there was a runner salmoning in the bike lane with earbuds in. She smiled and waved and did not move out of the bike lane, so I had to move into the traffic lane where the speed limit is 40 for cars. In this case, she was the most vulnerable person in the lane so I felt like I had to move over, but the lane is a BIKE LANE (with bikes painted on it and everything). It wasn't some kind of shared use trail! If she hadn't had the earbuds in, I might have stopped and talked to her about her choice of running location. On the other hand, at least with her running against the traffic pattern, she was able to see me coming so she could wave. Sigh...if it's not the cars trying to kill us, it's the inanity of pedestrians so wrapped up in their own world they're a danger to themselves and others.SouthLakesMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08822510653198676631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-3879832539693965582014-04-08T19:00:51.967-04:002014-04-08T19:00:51.967-04:00Steve,
Sorry to be confusing.
Think of a subway,...Steve,<br /><br />Sorry to be confusing.<br /><br />Think of a subway, metro or underground as being a bit like the transit tunnel in the middle of Seattle but longer and more complicated.<br /><br />But I take the point. I know I'm unusual in that, of the seven places I've lived, (London, Glasgow, St Andrews, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Budapest and New York) five of them have urban underground rail systems. It's not a complete coincidence, of course, My father worked for such systems.<br /><br />I hope the basic message that people get very focused on the environment in which they're travelling and fail to notice those on the outside has at least some relevance for day to day life over there in Ocean Shores, WA, however.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-73012841434835735462014-04-08T18:48:45.373-04:002014-04-08T18:48:45.373-04:00For most of us, subways or undergrounds are someth...For most of us, subways or undergrounds are something we encounter only on holiday.Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-3372695718635944542014-04-08T12:14:59.894-04:002014-04-08T12:14:59.894-04:00Beth,
I guess part of my message is that people a...Beth,<br /><br />I guess part of my message is that people aren't actively looking to be bad (though they quite often are). So, when people spot others, they do sometimes act out of proper fellow-feeling. Part of it is that we want the way we get about to send a message about ourselves. There are people who seem themselves as primarily considerate drivers ("not like all those other fools out there") and who consequently want to behave well.<br /><br />On the pedestrian-alerting device, I do have a bell as well (and I use it then the voice in roughly the way Kevin Love describes above). I guess being a sturdily-built 6' 5" Glaswegian does put a certain power into my yells, though.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-68063298873070461702014-04-08T12:10:00.031-04:002014-04-08T12:10:00.031-04:00An unusual and happy pedistrian/car interaction fo...An unusual and happy pedistrian/car interaction for today:<br /><br />I was walking to work and a car pulled far into a crosswalk I was approaching so he could see if the way was clear to turn right onto the main street. I didn't worry about it, was just going to cross behind him; but he saw me before I reached the crosswalk, backed up, and actually apologized through his open window.<br /><br />Of course, if last night's storm (hail still on the ground early this morning in Austin, looking like snow) is any indication, the apocalypse is upon us, so there you go. :)<br /><br />I need a better clueless-pedestrian-alerting device. I use what you use, but mine doesn't seem to have much volume!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04339037433781202751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-36251241493169176412014-04-08T09:39:56.859-04:002014-04-08T09:39:56.859-04:00Chris,
Thank you for your kind words.
While we k...Chris,<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words.<br /><br />While we know we don't always achieve it, we here at Invisible Visible Towers aim to please.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-91258679148350372142014-04-08T09:39:15.748-04:002014-04-08T09:39:15.748-04:00Monchberter,
How nice to see you in my comments s...Monchberter,<br /><br />How nice to see you in my comments sections, rather than below the line at the Guardian bike blog, where I've more often encountered you.<br /><br />I mentioned in a previous post ( http://invisiblevisibleman.blogspot.com/2013/06/it-was-as-inconvenient-time-for-work.html ) how I solve the music-while-one-moves issue by constantly having tunes going round my head. One recent very cold morning, for example, I suddenly had "Midnight Train to Georgia" going round my head. That was nice because it seems a rather warm song.<br /><br />I know there are some New Yorkers riding around with speaker arrangements a little like yours.<br /><br />As you'll also see in that previous post, however, I doubt you'd be able to hear much from your speakers at points while riding over the Manhattan Bridge. The sheer range of noises there is extraordinary. But I did notice the other night while waiting for the lights below the bridge at the Brooklyn end quite how superb a rhythm the trains produce as they go over the joints above. I was practically dancing in my saddle.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-69614327221759092422014-04-08T09:33:29.688-04:002014-04-08T09:33:29.688-04:00Kevin,
I too use a vintage device to cut through ...Kevin,<br /><br />I too use a vintage device to cut through the headphones, cellphone conversations and so on. It's been honed over centuries of use by East Anglian merchants, Scots farmers and seafarers and is powered by a big pair of 44-year-old British-sourced bellows.<br /><br />I think you know where I'm going with this.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-64319726154144033972014-04-08T09:00:00.688-04:002014-04-08T09:00:00.688-04:00"I'm struck, however, that it’s often the..."I'm struck, however, that it’s often the people least cut off from the reality of the city around them – cyclists out on the streets, intensely aware of all that’s going on – that are disproportionately involved in campaigns to make the streets safer." <br /><br />Very nicely put. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903394580369755242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-84428756209368845942014-04-08T08:28:18.774-04:002014-04-08T08:28:18.774-04:00I like listening to music, it gives some character...I like listening to music, it gives some character to what can sometimes lapse into a mundane daily commute by bike, but i've shied away from headphones to try a different approach, a bar mounted radio/MP3 player or bluetooth speaker.<br /><br />These aren't so loud as to cause annoyance to others and their sound is directional enough that you can still hear it. But they still allow you to be totally aware and in tune with your surroundings. <br /><br />http://portables.about.com/od/headphone1/fl/Review-Outdoor-Tech-Buckshot-Bluetooth-Speaker.htmMonchberterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00235546004719228395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-77574641767441908302014-04-08T00:38:02.795-04:002014-04-08T00:38:02.795-04:00When I graduated from Army Basic Training, my gran...When I graduated from Army Basic Training, my grandfather gave me his military whistle. Yes it is is very LOUD. And I use it to cut through the cell phones, earpieces and other ways that people use to distract themselves.<br /><br />First I try my Pashley's "Ding-Dong" bell. A lovely minor third is chimed. But if that doesn't work, the whistle is used.<br /><br />Historical comment: The whistle was repeatedly used to signal the attacks of one of the infantry platoons in the Battle of Groningen that liberated the city in 13-16 April 1945. See:<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Groningen<br /><br />Kevin Lovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186428862833389619noreply@blogger.com