Thirty-four years ago I was surprised to learn that my wife Sandra did not know how to ride a bike. I think I have gained a better understanding of why over the past few months. I also have a better understanding of the motto “Pride and Industry”.
Sandra explained that growing up their family had one bike. Her father used that bike to get to and from work. It was not a toy or for recreation, it was a mode of transportation as it was for many of the skilled and non-skilled laborers back then. Buses were the main mode of transportation. In fact, Sandra only vaguely remembers riding in a car once before arriving in the US as senior in high school 47 years ago!
Even today, I see skilled and non skilled laborers riding bikes! It’s commonplace to see men riding bikes with their weed wackers and rakes attached to the cross bar. I’ve seen men with 5 gallon buckets on the handle bars carrying tools. I’ve seen baskets of every kind and size loaded with tools and fuel. Sandra’s cousin Timothy said he once saw a man on a bike with his weed wacker and a LAWNMOWER!
I’ve also seen men riding their children to school on homemade platforms on the cross bar for comfort. I even saw a man riding with one hand on the handlebar and the other hand clutching a baby to his chest! Well not a baby but I guess 2-3 year old, a toddler.
Then, there are the 3 wheeled custom bikes that are designed to carry anything from sno-cones, fruits, to sweet breads.
There are two things I observed about the hundred(s) or so riders I have seen over the past couple of months. Number one, not one was wearing a helmet and number two, not one was a woman!
Although I have been told that women in the countryside, where busses are not as plentiful, do ride bikes, I have not seen any. I’ve seen groups of boys riding but never a girl among them.
Back to Sandra, I now understand that she had few opportunities to learn to ride a bike. I can also appreciate how hard Bajans both past and present work(ed) to provide for their families. A couple of days ago, I even saw a man pushing a pancart up the road full of his tools and back towards home in the evening! There are no excuses, not even the lack of transportation, that keep these men from earning a living, it’s called Pride!
By the way, a pancart is a wheelbarrow! Lol!
This week on Wednesday November 30, Barbados will celebrate her 50th year of Independence!
Having grown up in Barbados I know exactly what you are talking about, but I on the other hand snuck out my step grandpa bike and taught myself to ride with the help of friends. He used his bike as the mode of transport, but eventually bought a caras he got up in age. Thanks for your blog, very entertaining
Very good blog, thanks for sharing!
My father owned a bike and that was his means of transport to work as a carpenter , that was his Mercedes we were forbidden from riding it but my eldest sister would always wait until our father leave home and ride it in the yard .