Biking Through Austin: Unexpected Encounters
Some people choose to see the ugliness in this world, the disarray. I choose to see the beauty. To believe there is an order to our days. A purpose. Dolores, Westworld
Living in Austin, Texas, I'm no stranger to biking. Iāve done everything from cross-country races to competitive mountain biking, but these days, I enjoy riding around the city, taking in the sights. Although the quirky charm of "Keep Austin Weird" seems to be fading, thereās still weirdness (beauty) when I choose to look at it that way.
On a recent ride, I left my house near downtown and started pedaling through our inner-city neighborhood. I noticed a young girl, probably around four or five years old, wrapped in a cow patterned blanket. She looked absolutely terrified. Seeing kids in the neighborhood isn't unusual, but this one stood out because she seemed so scared. I glanced around, searching for a parent, but saw no one. Curiosity and concern got the better of me, so I doubled back to check on her.
I didnāt want to scare her, being a 50-year-old man and all, so I stayed on the other side of the street and called out, "Are you okay?" She replied, "I can't find my mother." When I asked where her mother was, she said, "I think she's walking the dog." Still, there was no mom in sight. At that moment, an elderly cyclist pulled up and another woman who was out walking approached. I flagged them down for help. Together, we managed to get the girl safely back to her home.
It made me stop and think. Iām sure the mother was horrified when she realized her daughter had escaped. And itās a reminder of how vulnerable kids are when they wander off. Itās a scary situation, but one that's been a concern since forever. What really struck me was seeing others step up to help. It reaffirmed my belief in our better angelsāthat most people genuinely want to do good. Despite how media often portrays us as constantly at odds, thereās still a lot of kindness out there.
Austinās Unhoused Population
While riding through the city, you encounter a lot of unhoused people. Many of them are mentally unstable, and some are clearly taking advantage of the system. But itās not just those at the lowest rungs of societyāpeople at the top do the same. Itās a strange dynamic, but Iām not here to complain about that I want to make away that every person you see in the middle of a busy road asking for money, maybe have more going on with them then just āwell you need to get a job.ā
As I was biking, I saw a woman in the middle of the street. She was dancing and singing erratically, clearly not in a good mental state. It was apparent she was either experiencing a mental crisis or was under the influence of some substance. Watching her in the street and drivers getting upset, honking and muttering under their breath I get the frustrations. The unhoused population here brings up many issues, and I donāt think anyone starts out wanting to end up like that. Lifeās unfortunate series of bad luck and bad decisions play into it. No one grows up thinking, āI want to be homeless and rely on substances just to get by.ā
Instead of portraying her in a negative light, I wanted to imagine her as someone who might have dreamed of dancing and singing. So, I drew her as a Broadway dancer or a show tune singer, not as someone struggling on the streets.
This doesnāt solve anything, but I wanted to show what she might look like if life had given her different chances.
Wrapping Up
So, Iām going to start documenting my life on a bike and posting it here on Substack in little bike-sized chunks and I hope you enjoy these stories. If you like what you read, Iād love for you to subscribe and follow me. Iām not here to make tons of cash; I just want to share the interesting things I see while biking or walking around.
This wraps up todayās post. If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment, send me a to say hello. I love connecting with people, especially fellow Austinites.
Thanks for reading, until next time.