The joy of random encounters

Uncovering urban lifestyle, contemporary trends and other (Canadian) peculiarities from a totally biased and nonobjective European perspective. Infiltration, intrigues, wonder and more ...

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The road from home to work and work to home tends to be an enjoyable event. I have the choice to complete my journey by several means and vehicles. There's the undersized bus (C21 / C23 shuttle), the skytrain (*), my trusty bike and the two bipedal devices stuck to my body.

it´s a sign, but not as we know it

But there's a problem with each of these options; the bus sign tends to whine that it's "full" on any random rainy day, since the driver is only allowed to take as many people as there are seats plus one or two unseated, unlucky and ultimately bruised passengers. The skytrain gets me to work so fast I have no time to take out my daily dose of semi-literature and enjoy a satisfactory reading experience. The bicycle is actually more a hypothetical option than something I would really consider given Vancouver's hilly profile and my wimpy condition. I actually walked back once, and by walking I mean the kind of walk that follows from drinking those one or two beers after you already have three or seven too many. Somehow, I feel it's an approach that wouldn't be met with highly appreciative comments of my employer.

it´s beer, just as we know it

Yet, all these are just minor issues. The greatest form of excitement is the chance to drive into the person in front of you while rubbernecking the accident in the opposing lane. At best, one gets to show off one's mighty middle finger at people who should have peacefully passed away several years ago (**). What I miss are the completely random events that cross your path every now and then.

For example:

At a red pedestrian light at a random T junction somewhere in Vancouver, I patiently await approval of the opposing traffic light to cross the street. From the right, an average sized pickup truck stops in front of the red traffic light. The driver's door opens in a determined fashion and an oriental middle aged man hops out. Leaving his door open, he makes a dash for the passenger light at which he fanatically starts pressing the button of the passenger light in an attempt to make his own red light turn green slightly quicker. I wonder if I should share my opinion that the buttons of pedestrian lights only serve to give the pedestrians the illusion that they actually have some control over the situation. The window of opportunity to start an in depth discussion on this fascinating topic is smashed shut in my face as the man legs it back into his car. Convinced of his powers and believing in a positive outcome, he slowly pulls his car up slightly over the line. I must admit that his conviction certainly made a difference as the traffic light promptly switches to green (****). As I pass in front of his average sized pickup truck, I give him an approving nod. Nice trick; next lesson is figuring out which button is related to what light and thanks for the effort.

said intersection

Not as good as coffee in the morning but it beats spraining the muscles around your central proximal phalanges after another enjoyable car ride in another enjoyable traffic jam any day.

(*) where "sky" can also mean subterranean as far as Canadians are concerned, and "train" is urban for le metro.

(**) debatable if they actually did die in some severe cases. Added bonus– you still get to rubberneck at accidents or middle finger that idiot that doesn't respect your pedestrian / bicycle rights.

(****) White actually, as pedestrian lights in Vancouver feature red and white lights.

Som3Th1ng Rnd

The continuing evolving gene pool