On 94.7 recently, a guy was talking to Kingsley Hollgate, and saying that he once stayed in an isolated cabin in Alaska. He was talking about the fact that whether in Africa or anywhere else, the greatest danger you can face is not from bad weather, or snakes, or bears, lions or any other wild animal. The greatest danger by far, that a person can face, is from other human beings. He said he was in a very isolated area in Alaska and became a aware that a man was approaching the cabin. He was 74 miles away from anywhere, and he was shitting himself because he had no idea what this person was doing there. It was in that moment that he realized once again, that a man in terms of another man can be an incredibly deadly and dangerous predator.
Invisible
It’s possible to get through a day in Western society without being polite, without showing manners, without any involvement with fellow human beings. You can be busy behind a computer. You might get away with not even saying a word to someone during the day at the office. There are few tricks that are new to people; few things that still surprise.
Information
It has been said that 7 volumes of the New York Times has more information than people living a few hundred years ago would learn in their entire lifetimes. And we naturally are a party to a great deal more information.
Cycling
But cycling is a sport where decency is a requirement. You can not hope to remain invisible, or to ignore information. You have to remain alert, and involved, and in the loop. Hand signals demonstrate where objects are, voice prompts too. It is a dangerous sport, even though on the face of it it may seem particularly monotonous, even boring. Traveling at high speeds means the more eyes scanning the road for hazards (holes, glass, rocks etc) the better the chances the whole group will finish the journey. It’s a co-operative allegiance that helps all. It’s sensible, logical and practical.
Read: The Best Drivers Are Also Cyclists
So being a cyclist, I found myself in a bizarre parallel universe whilst stuck in a traffic jam. I noticed a bubble in the rear left tyre of a gold BMW sparkling in the early morning sun. The vehicle was moving slowly forward, and I felt an imperative to communicate the danger to the driver. If I didn’t, and the vehicle picked up speed later that day, and the tyre burst, it would have been in my power to have prevented it.
But:
- how would he react to a person suddenly appearing at his window, having emerged from a vehicle behind him
- how would I communicate to him without obstructing traffic behind me.
Finally, noticing a traffic light ahead had turned read, and all vehicles had completed their accordion movements, I quickly approached the driver.
I lifted my fingertips to the pane of glass, and was relieved that it was sliding down.
“You know about your back tyre-“
“There’s a bubble in it. Shot-ah,” the guy said with a small smile. Before I knew it I was back in my car, feeling good. I got the feeling others had done the same thing, and he was moved by the collective consideration that had been elicited. I just hope he changed the damn tyre that day!
Be careful when approaching others even if your intention is to help. The rescuer often needs to be rescued, when acting impetuously. That said, if you are called to help another, we ought not to hesitate about doing so. It is the decent thing to do. If you are not called, not compelled, move on. Perhaps someone with more confidence will be called. Then again, maybe not.
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