Saga of a cyclist and a pothole
TVA talks to a young woman who came to grief when her bike hit a pothole in the dark. I have a beef with one word in this piece, where it talks about her intention to wear a helmet in future because of the “risques de ce sport.” She was on her way home from work, not practising a sport, nor are most cyclists. They’re commuting or travelling, not making risky maneuvers for thrills – or trying not to.
Vazken 21:51 on 2019-07-07 Permalink
Well even if it’s for commuting, you should still wear a helmet……unless I’m misreading your post?
Kate 23:12 on 2019-07-07 Permalink
I’m not talking about the helmet.
Depicting cycling as a sport implies the practitioner is willingly accepting some degree of risk. Someone merely cycling down a city street isn’t looking for the kind of thrill that a mountain biker does coming down a rocky slope or that a racer does on a track or in a Tour de France peloton.
The word also takes less seriously the fact that people can, and do, commute on their bikes, in a non-sporting manner. Unless everyone driving to work is indulging in a sport because a few Formula One guys drive cars, cycle commuting is not a sport.
ant6n 23:43 on 2019-07-07 Permalink
Characterizing cycling as a sport also implies it’s only for young, fit people. In reality, cycling is for everybody, including kids and the elderly.