Messenger Of The Masses (2003)

I work in the financial district of San Francisco. One of the things one first notices are the bike messengers delivering same-day packages to their destinations. They collided with the occasional vehicle, who were clueless to their presence, but rarely connected to the pedestrian. And there were many. So watched. And studied. And realized. This was street mathematics at its best. These guys were clocking in the pedestrians, and flying by without so much as a breeze. Enlightenment came when I noticed one coming my way. I stopped. He almost flew over the handlebars trying to avoid me. He said as he passed by, “Don’t move. Or even look at us. We know where you’re going and how fast. If you stop, you’ll get hit.” Sounds good to me. Who am I to argue.

Messenger Of The Masses
2003

How do you avoid a collision…
With a bike messenger?

IGNORE THEM!

Bike messengers are, by essence, scientists…
Geometric and algebraic computators…
Although you’d never know it…
And neither would they…

As you move and see one coming,
Do not stop, slow down, or speed up…

By the time you see one coming,
He has already seen you…
And estimated your direction,
And rate of speed…

And, determined the precise point
At which to pass you,
Without colliding…

So, keep moving, without changing;
And without looking, this is key…

If you can do this,
All you should feel is a slight breeze
As they fly by…

And hopefully,
They put on deodorant this morning.