One evening last week, I was doing a training ride around 9:30 pm. My night-time setup as of late is a full-sleeved ANSI Level III vest, Bell Citi helmet (safety yellow) w/reflective band, flashing PB LED bands around both ankles, Glo Gloves, 3 PB 1-watt Blazes on the front, a PB Beamer 5 on the front, and 2 PB SuperFlashes on my rear rack.

I was at the intersection of Washington and Heights Blvd. in central Houston, stopped at the light. There is a full bike-lane on Heights, so I was all the way to the right instead of taking the lane as I normally do at intersections. Soon after I stopped at the light a convertible with the top down pulled up beside me. It was blaring super loud gangster rap music (loud enough that the bass would make other cars shake). My first thought was that it was a bunch of teenage kids and I just kept looking straight ahead, expecting them to make some wisecrack about my bike or outfit.

To not make it so obvious that I was avoiding their gaze, I turned my head in their general direction. I was pretty surprised by what I saw. The passengers were a man and a lady, about mid-40's, dressed to the nines (elegant gown for the lady, tux-and-suit for the man). The man was sitting shotgun and was puffing on a big cigar. He leaned over to me and greeted me in a really slow slurred manner, "Yeeeaaaahhh." Both of them were clearly inebriated.

I was trying my hardest not to burst out laughing, and then the lady said out loud, "That be tha pooooo-leeeece." Then the man replied, "Yeaaaahhhhh - I liiiiike the police!" Then the light turned green and they drove off.

I had always suspected people think I'm a cop or a city worker when I wear my safety gear around town; I guess this confirms it.