THE 4 DIMENSIONS OF POLITICS

Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Harv Bishop
Introduction to Political Science
November 29th 2005.
Immortal Class


The book titled “The Immortal Class” written by Travis Hugh Culley clearly reflects the ideas and struggles of a young man in his late twenties, trying to make a living amidst the hustling and bustling of every day city life in Chicago. In his quest for survival, the author narrates how he found the will to succeed, and a sustainable transit option in the rebel world of bike messengers. In a nutshell the book comprise partly journal of Culley's days as a bike messenger, part call to arms against the oppression of cars and part a note to the city of Chicago.

Ultimately, the author, makes an attempt to support his argument that the conception of most American cities are centered around the personal automobile as the only realistic means of getting from one place to another at the expense of excluding all other reasonable means of transportation with special reference to the most efficient human powered machine of them all, the bicycle.

In the first chapter of the book the author tries to analysis the human psychology involved in riding a bicycle comparing a man’s body system to a machine. According to the author, “I overcome the resistance of two thin tires bound by an aluminum frame and a steel chain” (pg. 4). He was able to achieve this task by shifting his weight from pedal to pedal, reversing the side-to-side tilt of the frame. At the same time, emphasizing the biological consequence of riding a bicycle. According to the author, “ The first delivery of the day shakes off my morning lag, pumping warmth through my veins, bringing the first bit of sweat to my brow.” And finally concluding that, “A day in the life of a bike messenger is like hard drugs, you never know how rough it will be until you’ve slept it off” (pg. 5). However, he acknowledged his love for his work, the people he is involved with on a daily basis and his admiration of the “arrogant history of the city”, by ridiculing the concept behind the epic tales of the city’s forefathers, hinting at codes of conduct that apply to some and not all.

However, the individual psychology of interdependent upon one another that exist amongst courier messengers in times of need can be noticed as in “when one is down, others carry the weight” (pg. 9). In addition, analyzing Matt’s decision to quit biking a few years ago based on the idea that he felt he was being hunted by the city or the strange believe that some kind of ghost were watching him due to his past experience of his brother is another reflection of his psychological believes, according to matt, “I didn’t want to end up like my brother (pg.15).

On the other hand, the individual’s behavior that is evident in pat’s aggressive encounter with the cab driver, describes the long existing tension between bike messengers and other suburbanites driving their respective SUVs or other road users such as cab drivers, believing that the cyclist were treated quite differently by the system as if they do not have equal rights to the roads. Noting that the bike messenger tries to make use of unoccupied space that exists on the urban street. He concluded that the enemies they encounter were those who become furious when their bikes gets through traffic quicker than their own automobile, especially when they do things, like riding between lanes of traffic or running red lights, that their vehicle physically can’t accomplish.

Furthermore he describes the expression of anger and corporate greed in most establishments and in Chris’s defense of pat driving pattern, saying, “when it comes down to the bikers on the street, I don’t care about right or wrong. I need bikers alive and confident” (pg.12). At the same time emphasizing the risk to the lives of bike messengers and the extent at which the cyclist are willing to challenge the ugly situation. Initially, the author disagrees with his friend’s retaliation with violence wondering how such action will alter the cab driver’s behavior even if he was wrong or rude but latter concluded that it is the only way to survive in the courier business.

On the other hand, the cultural and sub-cultural values of the courier industry dictate that the company will support bikers who can fight down any obstacle, however, the relationship between the biker and the company is one of mutual gain, According to the author, “There is no ass to kiss and no contract to sign” (pg. 13). This is due to the fact that no matter the distance, the climate, the time of day, or the circumstance, if the package is on time the agreement between the courier and the company remains solid. Moreover, the natural and social system suggest that cars are equated with freedom and car owners feel they deserve more procession of the road and are more superior in class and statues to bike riders.

In the first instance, Culley’s love for bike started at a rally spearheaded by Critical Mass, a group that holds loosely structured anti-car protests in cities around the world. According to Culley, "This was the theater I had come to Chicago for", soon he became a convert, fascinated by the radically equal ability of bicycles to transform urban life. From a bike messenger's perspective he conveys the thrill, beauty and harsh logic of urban life with a sharp, poetic eye: "I have learned to see in the city a distinct sense of order, a special geometry, a realm of necessity behind each unplanned lunge and skid”.

However, it is difficult to conclude if Culley fully understand the interesting duality of the bike messenger's role. Either as a radical free spirit, a spine in the side of suburban, car-dependent America, or is he just another exploited staff in the corporate machine? It's an inevitable tension that the author feebly acknowledges but can't bring himself to embrace. Although, he noted that companies should invest more in their workers, his most unconsciously proto-capitalistic ideology will not places bike messengers at the center of his vision for the ideal future city.

In conclusion, I believe that the author’s political viewpoint mainly stands with the freedom left and order left which is gracefully free of self-pity at the same time encourage community support. The author considers his body is a source of power and adventure, not an impenetrable character of confusion and humiliation. However, Culley’s ideas for resolving the social dilemma seems very interesting and very practical to some extend in our present day cities. (e.g. 16th Street in Down town Denver – a city with few population). However, a dream of a Street covered with bikes only, quiet trains and a patient, car-free, delivery- based roadway might not be too practicable in a modern city such as Chicago due to population explosion.