The Old Man and The Electric Bike Gang

Kids nowadays...

The Old Man never liked the idea of electric vehicles much less electric bikes.

“Lazy. Just lazy,” he said to no one in particular when the first bike passed him on the sidewalk sprinting 25 miles an hour.

“They shouldn’t be on the sidewalk anyhow. Kids nowadays.”

It was always “kids nowadays” as the Old Man got older.

Back in his day, there was no electric anything except for lights. And even then, he had to go out and buy bulbs every year.

The EV craze puzzled the Old Man at first until a neighbor offered him a ride in one.

“It’s like turning a light on and off. One second nothing and the next it’s full power,” the neighbor said.

The Old Man merely grunted a response, thanked the neighbor for the lift, and got out just as fast.

“It’ll be the death of us all,” he said. “Give me a car I can control is what I say.”

“Maybe,” the neighbor said. “But having an EV is the least we can do for our planet.”

The Old Man kept his thoughts to himself because he knew he was in the presence of someone who didn’t understand logic or reason. The Old Man had gotten in more than his share of arguments, scuffles, and heated discussions to know when to just shut up about climate change and other hot political topics. This was such a time.

Presently, a small gang of electric bike riders zipped past him as he watched from his porch rocker. They were easily going 30 on the straight road.

The Old Man shook a fist at them because he knew they were going faster than the limit on a residential street. They waved as they passed, and the Old Man was sure they’d be back for another pass. They wore helmets but had no license plates on the bikes. He doubted they were old enough to drive regular cars.

But kids will be kids, so the Old Man leaned back on his rocker and dreamt of a day when there were no cell phones, home computers, or electric anything except maybe for lights and air conditioning.

Those were the good ol’ days.

He wasn’t long for this world but the Old Man would shake his fist at the fast-paced and confusing environment he lived in. He wasn’t liking it, no, not a bit, but he was desperately trying to accept it.

Just don’t ask him about this current generation’s music. Then you’ll get an earful.