“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.” — Iris Murdoch
I recently watched the movie version of The A-Team. Once I got past the fact that the actors would be giving their own takes on the characters and the tone was actually serious (well, as serious as an action flick can get), then I enjoyed it. Well, I’ll leave movie reviews to others, I only bring it up because the famous tagline uttered by Col. John Hannibal, “I love it when a plan comes together,” was given a deeper, almost spiritual meaning in the flick. That phrase applies to the story I’m about to tell you.
About a month ago, I had to visit my pharmacy which happens to be next to The Center. For my non-Orlandoan readership, The Center is the more palatable name given to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Central Florida. I biked down to my pharmacy only to find no designated place to chain my bicycle up once I got there; I had to make do with an old piece of railing.
No big deal, right? It did get me thinking, though: if there were a bike rack, more people might bike to The Center and the restaurants and shops located next to it. More bike riding and less car driving makes for a happier planet. And let us not forget how healthy it is to bike about. I also find I notice things when I’m biking or walking that I wouldn’t notice while driving — sometimes entire houses, I kid you not. The other thought that occurred to me is The Center, among other things, serves as a meeting place for a few different Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups, so it seemed the likelihood could be high that there are people who aren’t allowed to drive visiting the building.
When I got home, I related my experience to Brendan and said I’d like to see what I could do about getting a bike rack for The Center, maybe even having one created. “I know where we can get one,” he replied, his cherub face lighting more than usual. Brendan had noticed old bike racks at Rollins College (where he is going to school and my alma mater) that had been set aside when improvements were made on the campus. Excited, I sent an e-mail to my friend Randy Stephens who had recently been named interim director of The Center.
“You read my mind,” replied Randy. “I noticed yesterday that a guy had to bring his bike inside because of lack of rack.”
Around our house, the calendar goes from a blank grid to a mass of scribbled commitments in the blink of an eye. Throw in the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival and Gay Week and, the next thing we knew, a month had passed before we got in touch with Rollins. The answer from Brendan’s contact, facilities manager Laura Coar, was a resounding: “Yes!” She was thrilled the rack could be put to good use.
Last Wednesday, Brendan had a meeting on campus, so he and our friend Alex Copeland loaded the bike rack into our van. I was so excited when Brendan arrived home with the bike rack that I insisted we head out immediately to deliver it to The Center – despite the dark sky above. Naturally, about half-way there, the sky opened up — complete with infamous Florida thunder and lightning — which was not quite as aggravating as the opportunity to say “I told you so” that was afforded to Brendan.
Back home we went to wait out the storm.
Fifteen minutes later we were able to head back and just deal with that annoying light spitting rain. Randy was happy to see us, but then Randy always seems to be happy. We had to inconvenience a volunteer who had been parking his motorcycle in the exact best spot for the bike rack. He feigned annoyance, but I didn’t buy it. Recently, an art installation was stolen from about The Center’s entrance, so I had a slight fear the rack might get stolen as well; that is, until Randy and I moved the rack out of the van and into its new home. That sucker is heavy; we need only track down a thief with a hernia, if it comes up missing. A couple of old locks need to be cut off the rack and it could probably use a coat of paint, but I thnk it will serve The Center well.
So now you can ride your bike when you’re going to visit The Center! Although I don’t recommend doing it when it looks like rain. Don’t make me say I told you so.
