A comic book cover: The title of the series is "BMF: Local 317", as represented by a large wheel graphic in yellow. The title of this book is "Chapter 1: The Rat Race", in yellow, jagged letters. The background is an adventurous scene in a dimly lit alleyway: a futuristic bike messenger wearing a rugged filter mask riding a cargo bike amidst a small army of rats.
Two pages of a comic book.
Page 1 is a white background with black boxes. It is a narrator's monologue:
"This was inevitable. I mean, we didn't have great history classes but we know: everybody knew this would happen. Sometimes it rains for weeks. Some months it never rains. Every generation for a hundred years hoped for change. I try to imagine what it must have been like, knowing where we were going and being unable to stop.... And change did come. But not because we chose to. It came because the economy collapsed. It came when people started fleeing to Mars. Change came with an ultimatum: adapt or die."
Page 2: Location - Indianapolis, year 2099.
A sketchy ink drawing depicts the complex rooftops, highrises, and skyscrapers of Indianapolis, Indiana. The city skyline is familiar, but hazy and pierced by gigantic windmills.
Narration: "Change came too late."
Four panels: four bike messengers meet in an alleyway. Rosa, in a purple tactical overcoat, yellow helmet, filter mask, yellow gloves, props up her bike, eyeing Milo skeptically. Milo is wearing a silver, multi-level hazmat suit and a similarly heavy-duty filter mask.
Milo: "Another day, another stiffed tip. Remind me why we're still here, Rosa?"
Rosa: "Because there's no Powerball on Mars, Milo."
A third messenger in a pink sweater and vintage WW2 "talker" helmet coasting in: "Who needs gambling when you have surge pricing?"
Rosa, greeting him: "Heyy, Naoki. Just in time."
Naoki: "That's one way to put it."
Two pages from a comic.
Page 1: a digital message coded in markdown. "Bike Messenger Federation 317 Message of the day."
"Weather advisory: extreme humidity, fog and heat advisories across all sectors. Respirators required. Hydration packs required. Water rations available at all standby checkpoints. Traffic: heavy congestion reported on Washington Street East due to heat buckling on I-70. Highjacking risk is elevated. Detour time is authorized. Rates: standard last-mile rate today with hazard pay active in all Washington Street corridor activities. Special union notice - mandatory: Effetive immediately all, active members must report to HQ for a high-priority briefing. Non-attendance will incur penalties under Section 4 of the BMF code of conduct. Arrive within thirty minutes or file a delay form on-site with Dispatch. End of message."
A scene: Rosa's cleat has come loose from its mechanical bindings.
Rosa: "Yike"
Milo: "Ope"
Rosa: "Opesy"
Naoki: "ope"
Rosa: "oop"
Milo: "ope"
Naoki: "How'd you clip out?"
Milo: "Muddy cleat."
Rosa: "Stupid new pedals"
Naoki: "Bangarang"
Milo: "She'll get it."
Cleats: *Pop!*
Rosa: "Got it!"
Naoki: "Nice."
Rosa, raising hand for high five: "Hazard pay!"
Naoki: "Sure, Rosa."
Milo: "Keep dreaming."
Page 2 - the BMF wheel logo on corduroy. Narration: "We should have had BMF all along. Bike Messenger Federation. The Union. Even a dying planet needs logistics."
I think I'll do a megathread of Ch.1? For free? For Mastodon fam? For the #biketooters?
I'll just add a few pages to this post weekly on Saturdays until Ch.1 runs out. Starting with several, please enjoy
Can't wait? Want the whole, full-rez pdf now? khajit […]
[Original post on urbanists.social]
