Every morning, I leave with an empty head and a light heart knowing that I will spend the first minutes of this day doing what I love most: finding the space I need to sneak through this urban jungle without risking my life or that of others.
My morning pleasure comes down to being a grain of sand among the rocks which are also trying to roll towards their destination. I realize how unequal this fight may seem, but it is precisely this aspect that makes this activity so exciting.
Until recently and for more than 20 years, I was comfortable with the risks inherent in this practice. However, there is now an element that makes this dance more complex, and this is the first year where the state of the road surface is a greater threat than all the others.
It’s amazing how I have to zigzag, analyze when and where I need to change lanes, not only based on what obstacles are in front, behind or beside me, but most of the time based on those below me and which risk destabilizing me.
For motorists, most of these holes or bumps can result in a flat tire or a broken shock absorber, but for two-wheeled vehicle enthusiasts, it can lead to loss of control. The most annoying thing is to see a repaired hole which is as dangerous as before, because the work was sloppy and badly done.
This letter seeks to make employees, their bosses and especially elected officials aware of the importance of maintaining the road network in good condition and to realize that, for some, these are just holes, but for us cyclists, they can every moment become our next tomb.