Agliochophobia
There is no name for the specific fear of being hit by a car, so I had to resort to making one up. Agliochophobia is actually a mix of agliophobia (the fear of pain) with ochophobia (fear of vehicles). It is not to be confused with arachibutyrophobia (fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth).
But, yes, of all things, my only real phobia in life is a fear of being hit by a car. It's not exactly an irrational fear, and it is one that seems to have developed in the last decade or so. It was definitely not present when I was a bike messenger in the late 1980's, when I was an undeniably stupid twenty-something American male. I actually tried to instill in Boston drivers the very rational fear of bike messengers. I was known at times to spit on motorists' windshields or pull out my Kryptonite lock and threaten to smash a driver's window. Usually, my rage was directed at cab drivers, who often dangerously cut me off and also fought back for any of my transgressions. One guy even pulled a Rockford Files move and blocked my escape across the Mass Ave bridge (though the cabbie didn't fully take into account my then formidable sidewalk hopping skills).
But, here's how it manifests itself today, nearly twenty years later. I cross only at corners, cringe at walking through parking lots, usually wait for the traffic signal to turn to White Pedestrian Guy before crossing the street, and rarely if ever cross against the light. I'm a model pedestrian and, by extension, a model bicyclist.
Sure, I've had my share of comments by many of you fearless lawbreakers out there ("that guy wouldn't last five minutes in New York" is my favorite) and I may look like the complete cycling dork, waiting patiently at the light while other cyclists whiz by and no car can be seen on the cross street for at least a mile. But, hey, I'm just following the law and, unbeknownst to everyone, engaging in field therapy for my slight agliochophobic suffering. In fact, inspired by my behavior as a model pedestrian and cyclist, I've decided to launch an "Ask the Amateur" portion of this blog. In it, I'll combine my training as a lawyer and my status as a certified agliochophobic and answer any and all questions about cycling and pedestrian travel. And I mean any, and I'll go to the source if I have to find the right answer. So, ask away.
But, yes, of all things, my only real phobia in life is a fear of being hit by a car. It's not exactly an irrational fear, and it is one that seems to have developed in the last decade or so. It was definitely not present when I was a bike messenger in the late 1980's, when I was an undeniably stupid twenty-something American male. I actually tried to instill in Boston drivers the very rational fear of bike messengers. I was known at times to spit on motorists' windshields or pull out my Kryptonite lock and threaten to smash a driver's window. Usually, my rage was directed at cab drivers, who often dangerously cut me off and also fought back for any of my transgressions. One guy even pulled a Rockford Files move and blocked my escape across the Mass Ave bridge (though the cabbie didn't fully take into account my then formidable sidewalk hopping skills).
But, here's how it manifests itself today, nearly twenty years later. I cross only at corners, cringe at walking through parking lots, usually wait for the traffic signal to turn to White Pedestrian Guy before crossing the street, and rarely if ever cross against the light. I'm a model pedestrian and, by extension, a model bicyclist.
Sure, I've had my share of comments by many of you fearless lawbreakers out there ("that guy wouldn't last five minutes in New York" is my favorite) and I may look like the complete cycling dork, waiting patiently at the light while other cyclists whiz by and no car can be seen on the cross street for at least a mile. But, hey, I'm just following the law and, unbeknownst to everyone, engaging in field therapy for my slight agliochophobic suffering. In fact, inspired by my behavior as a model pedestrian and cyclist, I've decided to launch an "Ask the Amateur" portion of this blog. In it, I'll combine my training as a lawyer and my status as a certified agliochophobic and answer any and all questions about cycling and pedestrian travel. And I mean any, and I'll go to the source if I have to find the right answer. So, ask away.
posted by greg at 10:00 AM
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