Cycling with Patience

Most cyclists have experienced it.  The driver in a rush who brushes too close, or who zooms around you only to make a right turn right in front of you causing you to hit the brakes, HARD.  And most of us have yelled at said drivers, either some expletive or a gentler rebuke (my favorite, "You Idiot!").  Impatient drivers are a danger to cyclists.

But we have a call to be patient cyclists as well.  Are we so inconvenienced if we have to use our brakes?  Do we need to get to the front of the traffic at a light by riding on the right of cars?  We have the option to practice Patient Cycling, and we'll be safer, and happier, if we do.

Impatience!  What is it anyway?  My best definition is that it is the irritation/anger that arises in us when others are not operating in a way that suits us best.  In cars it is the frustration with the person driving too slowly in front of us. In relationships it is the constant irritation with others who don't pay attention to our preferences.  In cycling it is the rush to judge, and condemn the way others are operating their vehicles.  If that is impatience, than patience is my decision to pay attention to, and adjust to, the preferences of those around me. It is not just to let perceived offences go, but to actively accommodate to the ways others might prefer.

In cycling, patience can mean slowing down, helping cars know when to pass, pulling to the left of the lane at a light so drivers can turn right on red, watching out for pedestrians, stopping at lights, not passing traffic on the right.  But the internal bit is to let go of our demand that everyone else around us adjust to our needs and ways.  And it might mean getting somewhere more slowly.  But we won't be as irritated, and drivers won't be as irritated and the world will be a bit more at peace.  Try it today.  I'm pretty bad at it myself, but hopefully getting better.