The Joys Of Cycling: Road Music

This is another installment of my continuing series, the joys of cycling. In which I try to chronicle some of the hidden gems of cycling.

Have you ever been at an intersection where you notice that someone up front has done something stupid, lets say backed out into the intersection right as the light has turned green only to realize that the only way they can complete their three point turn is to move into the space that has just been occupied by the car that has pulled up behind them? Yea? Then you know what happens next.

The car in front knows what is going on, so they just sort of sit there and make nasty faces at the car in front of them. But the car behind the front car can’t a good god damn so they start honking, and then the car behind them starts honking, and then the car behind them starts honking, and if you are really lucky they will all peak in a crescendo of honking that is at once horrible and beautiful.

I am not just talking about the usual “my horn is my ‘solve anything’ button, and by pressing it I will solve this problem” honking, I am talking about 5 or six cars all letting go on the horn together in one big orgy of honking. Really laying on it too, none of that casual beep beep bull shit.

This happens down town a lot, as a bunch of frustrated drivers all try to get out of the financial district at once. At first I was highly annoyed, thinking to myself “how can that possibly help,” but over time I came to really enjoy the phenomenon.

Sometimes this little performance happen in concert with a fire truck or ambulance siren, and combined with the general noise of the city, creates a rich and complex music. Almost like a techno song, or some sort of sound art piece. Its one of the many reasons I ride without head phones, and one of the more interesting things about living in Boston.

The next time you hear a bunch of angry motorists lay on the horn all at once be sure to pause and enjoy the fine road music before passing them to continue on your ride.

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