Last night I was cruising down Devon when I spotted a dude on a skateboard. I had this immediate impulse to stick out my hand–for a high five at the very least, or a skitch if he wanted one. As I was about to do this, he shouts, “Yo, gimme a ride!” so I ease up on the speed, steer over to him and respond, “Grab on, man.”

My legs work double for two blocks, he gets a small respite, and we both recognize the overlapping of our respective communities. There’s a shared sentimentality between skaters and certain brands of bikers. I totally understood him wanting to skitch, and I was totally willing to let him grab my seat post for two blocks, but it was about more than that–it was about attitude. Skaters and bikers are always at a disadvantage around cars, and this can create an adversarial mindstate. Beyond that, our alternative transportation choices frequently reflect an underlying disaffected state.

As he jetted off from my tow, he shouted, “This is the United States of America!” It was probably one of the most authentic community bonds I’ve felt since I moved here last August.