Two tribes go to war
by the Cyclologist

See me? So starts the Scottish Executive advertisement attempting to educate us to see the person not the label. Look once, look twice, think bike. Are we seen as a label as we travel by bike? Out on the roads we go, hoping to be seen as we enter the battleground that is the road network. It is 'us' and 'them'' whoever us or them may be.

Tin can terrorists! Lycra Louts! Motons! B****y cyclists! It is convenient and easy to assign labels. It dehumanises, categorises as something other, something alien, something we do not need to consider beyond the label we have applied.

Go on, admit it. You have shouted at other vehicles, as have I. We abuse the carapace, ignoring the content. It is very different when we know the person inside. "I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you" as one of your work colleagues shows contrition for treating you like a (spits) cyclist, or as I apologise for a more assertive than usual piece of traffic jamming. Being seen as a person rather than an object is surely key to enhancing your interaction with our fellow travellers. But being recognised as human is not enough. Tribalism is rife. Whether it be Celtic or Rangers, pedal power or petrol, if it is the other tribe then they do not matter.

So we identify with our tribe, with that crowd of like minded veloists. We adopt symbols of our tribe, identifying as us rather than them, and consequently as unworthy of attention by them. Labelled as 'Cyclist' we no longer appear as 'a bloke like me' or 'that girl in the office', the kind of person that our fellow travellers can relate to. Instead we are cyclist, the other tribe and as such of no consequence.