The other day I was biking home and a car pulled up along side of me and the people inside asked for directions to the nearest buffet. I, well, was woefully unprepared to help these out-of-town folks find their bliss, but told them how to get to some nearby restaurants (side note: any buffets in inner Southeast Portland?)
Last night the same thing happened — a car driver pulled over and asked three cyclists for directions to Highway 99E. We obliged and helped her out.
This sort of interaction is part of why I love to bike or walk — people can interact with you, because you can hear, talk, and be close to people’s windows, even if they’re in a car. It’s much harder when two people each are in cars, with big chunks of metal surrounding them and creating distance and communication barriers.
This is the sort of interaction that the cities of Chicago and Toronto could take more advantage of with their Bicycle Ambassador programs, which often are more event-focused outreach instead of on-the-street presence. Or the City of Portland could start a program to mirror the Portland Visitor’s Association’s “Sidewalk Ambassadors” who help lost tourists with information.
Here’s to all the bicyclists out there helping lost souls find their way, to a buffet or elsewhere. Perhaps one day we’ll get paid, but for now, the good will and smiles are compensation enough.
