I remember when heads would turn at the sight of an adult riding a bicycle on a downtown street in any big Canadian city. In those days, bikes, except for the ones used by delivery boys, were regarded as toys. Then the yuppies discovered the joy of pedal-power and suddenly there were so many bicyclists cluttering up the streets that our cities began to take on a European look. Bike lovers will tell you that their mode of transportation not only provides them with exercise, but is non-polluting, to boot. Bicycles are, of course, non polluting, and riding them in the country air would no doubt be beneficial to your health, but biking and breathing deeply of exhaust fumes on city streets is downright hazardous to your health. I never owned a bike when I was a kid, though I always wanted one. I did, however, have a few close encounters with other people’s bikes.
- Tuesday, August 10, 2010
CFP “Poet in Residence” William Bedford was born in Dublin, Ireland, but has lived in Toronto for most of his life. His poems and articles have been published in many Canadian journals and in some American publications.