Fixpert

I love this, this is so good — the “bike messenger hook.” Instructions on how to run an intersection like any good bike messenger would.

It’s a fact that bike messengers are more aware of everything going on in the busy city streets than anyone else (if they’re not, they don’t last long). They see the hand truck pushing out from between parked cars. They see the lady drop her shopping bag. They see the pigeon crouch down as though it were preparing for flight. And as a messenger, you often capitalize on knowing that other people can’t see you. For example, if you’re trying to blast through the wall of pedestrians in a crowded crosswalk, you shoot behind the person that obviously has no awareness of you. You avoid skirting in front of or behind the person that has spotted you, because they will inevitably hop from side to side trying to guess what your next move will be.

So, the bike messenger hook is also taking advantage of knowing that the driver won’t react and slam on their brakes. Pure genius, and I just love the fact that they’ve made an aerial diagram.

Holy cow, this is the coolest!

Check out this video, dated 1899, of a guy riding a track bike doing backwards circles and other tricks!