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The power of hello

August 18, 2008 - 9:17am -- corinne

This morning on my ride in to work I smiled and said good morning to the woman sweeping the sidewalk on my street. To the bums just waking up along the trail. To the business man as I crossed the bridge over the Guadalupe River, and then to the woman walking across the crosswalk in front of me, looking uncomfortable in high heels.

Does this change their opinion of cyclists? I've always thought so. This morning, as I rode the elevator up to our office, I considered that maybe, just maybe, it changes their ideas about human beings, as well...

Comments

legoandy's picture

legoandy

August 18, 2008 - 12:24pm

I like your post. Completely agree with you. And sometimes even a simple smile is enough.

I actually noticed sometimes when I ride I see people with the "idiot cyclist in spandex" look on their face, but the moment I smile to them, it seems like their complete outlook changes. They usually smile back and sometime even wave.

Yesterday I did a 180 mile bike ride around Napa and I saw this happened several times. Sometimes I yelled "good morning", sometimes "beautiful day". And sometimes I just smiled to them and let them know that the world is a happy place.

Andy
Vegan Cyclist From Silicon Valley

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