Riding in to work today, still on the Valkyrie, I noticed a few people were more than miffed at me for cruising at only 60MPH. Speeding just a little bit, to be sure (go ahead, mail me my ticket), but faced with a gusty headwind that added as much as 20MPH to my "windspeed," it seemed that I wasn't putting enough effort in to please all of the other drivers.

From my perspective, the extra wind gave a perception of going much faster. It isn't my goal when riding, to go as fast as possible, but as a responsible rider, it does factor into my travel as I have to deal with the minor disruptions a little differently than others. A gust of wind just a little off may cause me to swerve a little, or at least look like I am, as I end up leaning into the wind just a bit. Even with my big windshield, the wind coming around it tries to press me off my seat, so riding faster in high winds is a little more concerning, and requires just a little more care and caution.

Additionally disturbing to the other drivers, while I was going about the same speed as the vehicles in front of me, I wasn't immediately behind them. I try to ride with a little space so I have time to react to what the vehicle in front of me does, or what might pop out from beneath it, whether debris or road conditions.

I guess too many people can't stand that there's space between the vehicles ahead of them. It seems they think they're missing out on something, or that they're losing out by being by being those few seconds behind. This is marginally more understandable when I drive the Jeep, and people feel they can't see around me and would like that comfort, but as big as I or my motorcycle are, there's plenty of room to see around as I tend to ride in the right-hand side of the lane, where I'm more likely to be seen by the vehicle I'm following.

There's a sign warning people not to fall in the crack between the platform and the train at subway stations in London. I guess that's where it is or is from; I've never been there, but I've seen it in movies and television, and read mentions of it elsewhere. I'm thinking of getting a big patch to put on the back of my jacket, or at maybe finding a plackard to put on the backrest, or finding a license plate frame for the motorcycle that has it on there.

Most discouraging was the State of Minnesota Fleet vehicle (license plate EB 0654) that didn't quite tailgate the car next to me, but took a passing opportunity to zoom in front of me and pull away at an easy +15MPH. Did I mention I was already speeding a little bit? That car passed me and zoomed ahead a little bit, and then slowed to the same speed, as he stopped creeping away. Perhaps a full quarter mile ahead, he must have felt quite relieved to have gained such ground.

I mention this only because I think it behooves representatives of the government to act as role models. Perhaps to follow more stringently the letter (and intent) of the laws put forth. For whatever economoy, safety, or arbitrary reasons, the speed limit on that stretch of road is 55MPH. Traffic was cleanly flowing just a rounding-error above that, closer to 60MPH. A few crept a little faster, maybe at 65MPH. This yahoo quickly and noticably zoomed ahead of all of those people.

Strictly, the guy driving the car probably isn't an actual state representative (in that he wasn't the elected official of that title), but he was in a car clearly emblazioned with "State of Minnesota Fleet" on the side of it, and his licence plate noted he was driving a government vehicle. Surely he and his companion were off on some important and official task, and time (being money) was not to be wasted. Still, I think he should have been abiding the speed limit a little better than the rest of us.

One reason I think this should happen is the tried and true "leading by example." If our leadership, and the people who obviously work for them, follow the rules, then it's possible others will as well. Sometimes this will happen by simple peer pressure. Sometimes it'll happen simply because they'll be in the way and people will have to consciously (inasmuch as many vehicle occupants make any conscious decision, especially when in the control position...) make an effort to drive around them.

Another reason I think this should happen is that the effect of following the rules will affect future rules. If leadership, and the people who obviously work for them, follow the rules, then they'll perhaps recognize places where the rules are less about economy or safety and more arbitrary, and maybe changes can be made. In order for those speeding guys to get where they were going at the same time, they would have had to leave wherever they departed a little sooner. That working time lost riding in cars would have an impact, and the causes would perhaps be evaluated; congestion and speed limits could be reviewed, and things might get changed so that they could complete their tasks in the same time, without breaking the law.

I think anyone who works in or for the leadership who has a different opionion, say one of entitlement that perhaps they deserve a break due to their service, has entered into that service for the wrong reasons. I get that a great many government employees have the same jobs as people who don't work directly for the government, and that to many of them, it's just a different employer. Still, as an employee of a company, I feel I'm always representing them, especially in a work-related context. As such, I try to do what I think helps represent them in a good way.

Fellas speeding ahead in traffic at about 70MPH don't send a good message.