the sound of cicadas.

saturday, may 4th, 2024.

One of the things I really enjoy about bicycling (and walking for that matter!) is that I get to be present with the nature-between-the-cracks. In my particular urban environment, though there's plenty of strip malls, single family homes, industrial machinations, and car washes, nature is still right there keepin' on keepin' on. In How to Do Nothing, Jenny Odell calls the noticing of this nature the "I-Thou" relationship— nature is just as real and solid as I am and takes notice of me. Odell posits that the birds must find people-watching as interesting as we find bird-watching.

A brood of cicadas have recently emerged from their 17-year slumber here in central Georgia and their song is loud right now. I heard on the radio that there's actually a double brood emerging this year, although I'm not sure if that's true in our area according to this brood map from the USDA. Either way, the cicadas are making themselves known! I was riding my bike home yesterday and it was an interesting experience to hear the collective song wax and wane depending on which fields and thickets I rode by. I have no doubt that if I were doing the commute in the usual air-conditioned moving box of an automobile, I would not have taken much note of this raucous cacophony of cicadas!

bicycle advocacy.

In other news, I've been moving and shaking in bicycle advocacy land. I participated in a transportation committee meeting for the first time as an appointed, voting committee member. The committee has been rather passive lately as far as I can tell, so I've proposed that we elect a chairperson and vice chairperson to participate in the other committees as is laid out in our bylaws. In other words, it's time to roll up our sleeves and actually be the committee that connects with the citizenry to provide feedback to the policy-makers and not the rubber stamp we have been.

I also met with one of the folks from Georgia Bikes and we had a good long conversation about bicycle advocacy and how best to grow our organization at a food truck event last night. I took a bunch of notes as she shared all sorts of ideas. It was pretty rad! They're also planning an advocacy organization summit sometime in October in Decatur that I hope to attend, as well as group rides to take tours of some of the bicycle trails and infrastructure that these advocacy organizations have helped build.

I've really been enjoying the group rides with my local cycling club, but alas! events have been rained out today. I am positively salivating at the prospect of my Priority Apollo being delivered at the end of this month. My first ever bicycle with drop bars! I've also ponied up for a club jersey to live my best MAMIL life. I could definitely use losing the ol' spare tire, though! 😅

I suppose that's all for now! Until next time, be well. :)