Comments on: A Close Call, a Confrontation, a Conciliatory Ending

By: eh?

eh? — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:51:15 +0000

that's not true - an immigrant is someone who immigrates in their lifetime, not the descendants thereof.
and anyway, native americans immigrated here, too. just a lot longer ago.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:38:59 +0000

In all fairness, you're an immigrant, too. Unless you're Native American.

By: spike

spike — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:48:20 +0000

This guy was on rickshaw not a bike. I think the rickshaws (and for that matter horse carriages) should be banned from NYC. You get one of those in a bike path and it shuts it down for everyone else because they are so wide, so clumsy, so slow. They have a hard time clearing the intersections so they block pedestrians. On the regular avenues they produce chaos all around them as the crazy drivers try to get by them, making it more dangerous for regular cyclists. I'm tired of dealing with them. They are a tourist thing, you can usually get somewhere much faster by walking or taking the subway. If NYC had infinite room, it would be fine, but bike lanes are already too crowded and they make a dangerous situation ever more so.

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:53:26 +0000

Ethan, that's not environmentalism, that's Buddhism!

By: Ethan Kent

Ethan Kent — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:24:15 +0000

Maybe the next chapter for No Impact Man could be as Big Impact Man

Maybe the next generation of environmentalism could be built around this kind of civility and humanism.

The current questions that are guiding environmental culture are helpful for building awareness and responsibility, but are not ever going to really change the world or our relationship to it in the fundamental way that is necessary. In fact, I would argue that most environmental thinking is perpetuating the very problems we are trying to solve.

Instead of asking questions about our actions like:
Is it sustainable?
Has it minimized its impact?
Does it use the most ecological practices?
Does it celebrate “nature”?

Perhaps we should be asking questions like:
Are we supporting or generating life?
Are we helping life express its potential?
Do our actions reflect a love and support for our surroundings (environmental, built, cultural, historical, social, economic, place)?
Does it love and support the earth and the broader ecosystem of which we are a part?
Do our actions reflect a love and support for people and their comfort?

If we a start to think this way, I think our hearts can truly expand and we can see ourselves as not only avoiding a negative impact, but actually having a huge positive impact.

By: Komanoff

Komanoff — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:36:44 +0000

Gripping story, Colin. Thank you for being honest about your emotions. Your plea to the driver to apologize ("I don't actually want to call the police. I just want you to apologize. I want you to realize that you nearly killed me so you could get somewhere five seconds faster.") was poignant and appropriate. As I was reading, though, I found myself wanting you to hear and accept his apology much sooner than you evidently did. If not when he said "You're right. I wasn't thinking. I did a bad thing.", then next, when he said, "You're right ... Please will you shake my hand and give me forgiveness." It is so rare to hear those words, spoken so openly, from anyone, much less a stranger. Maybe I'm too soft, but I wish you had embraced him.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:41:08 +0000

Perhaps No Impact Man had an impact this time. I hope so.

By: Air

Air — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:33:48 +0000

That's awesome!

It reminds me of an Overheard in NY post:
http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/012478.html

Angry guy in crosswalk: You should get a ticket!
Yielding cyclist, seemingly sincere: I love you!
Angry guy, passing: You should get a ticket!
Cyclist, pedaling off: I love you!
Angry guy, sheepishly: Thank you.

--70th & Amsterdam

Overheard by: Andreas

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:15:08 +0000

This is awesome and inspiring! Thank you for sharing your story.

By: Fair Trade

Fair Trade — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:10:45 +0000

Great post. Good to hear of a near miss and a happy ending. Now, all we have to do is educate the millions of drivers out there; maybe this story should be made into an advert and put on YouTube - every little helps...