Earlier this year, I did a little bit of biking in preparation for the Little Red Bike Ride up in Lewiston. My group had a great time training and riding, especially on the day of the bike ride.
One day for training, I decided to ride up from our apartment in Bountiful to the University of Utah. The trip is about 8 miles up hill, but thankfully there are bike lanes most of the way.
As I sped along the bike lane, I noticed something a little odd painted on the road.
I started noticing different lane markings after listening to the episode Icon for Access on one of my favorite podcasts, 99% Invisible. Give it a listen!
You wouldn't think it, but there is so much design that goes into these symbols. They need to be simple, universal, and be able to convey a message.
I am used to seeing this type of pavement symbol in the bike lane: a nondescript dude on a bike. (This one actually looks a little weird because the head looks a little like one of those alien skulls from Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.)
But then on another section of bike lane, I saw this marking: a nondescript dude on a bike, but he's wearing a helmet!
Kudos Salt Lake City for encouraging bikers to wear helmets! I've crashed enough times on a bike and thankfully been wearing a helmet, that I think that we all should be wearing helmets while biking, even though it makes my head look like an orange on a toothpick (name the movie!).
But on my way home, I noticed something odd about the bike lane dude:
Bike lane dude looks like he's wearing one of those Chinese rice paddy hats!
First of all, as an Asian person, I feel extremely welcome biking in North Salt Lake. I've got my own bike lane!
Second of all, despite feeling welcome in NSL, I don't think one of those straw hats will protect your noggin in a crash.
Just saying, keep wearing your helmet.
Happy biking, friends!
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| Happy biking girls after Little Red Bike Ride |
One day for training, I decided to ride up from our apartment in Bountiful to the University of Utah. The trip is about 8 miles up hill, but thankfully there are bike lanes most of the way.
As I sped along the bike lane, I noticed something a little odd painted on the road.
I started noticing different lane markings after listening to the episode Icon for Access on one of my favorite podcasts, 99% Invisible. Give it a listen!
 |
| 99% Invisible podcast |
You wouldn't think it, but there is so much design that goes into these symbols. They need to be simple, universal, and be able to convey a message.
I am used to seeing this type of pavement symbol in the bike lane: a nondescript dude on a bike. (This one actually looks a little weird because the head looks a little like one of those alien skulls from Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.)
 |
| A typical bike lane pavement marking: bike dude |
But then on another section of bike lane, I saw this marking: a nondescript dude on a bike, but he's wearing a helmet!
 |
| Bike lane dude with helmet |
Kudos Salt Lake City for encouraging bikers to wear helmets! I've crashed enough times on a bike and thankfully been wearing a helmet, that I think that we all should be wearing helmets while biking, even though it makes my head look like an orange on a toothpick (name the movie!).
But on my way home, I noticed something odd about the bike lane dude:
 |
| North Salt Lake's bike lane dude |
Bike lane dude looks like he's wearing one of those Chinese rice paddy hats!
 |
| From www.33avenue.com |
First of all, as an Asian person, I feel extremely welcome biking in North Salt Lake. I've got my own bike lane!
Second of all, despite feeling welcome in NSL, I don't think one of those straw hats will protect your noggin in a crash.
Just saying, keep wearing your helmet.
 |
| Ready to go on another ride |
Happy biking, friends!
Looks like the first bike lane dude is also a field hockey dude. Definitely a stick on his shoulder!
ReplyDeleteYou're right! Maybe even a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!
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