San Francisco is filled with a lot of weirdos. Sometimes, that weirdness proves to be the perfect recipe needed to be ahead of the game on human rights issues. Sometimes, that weirdness proves to be the perfect recipe needed for stupid fights like whether naked men should have to put towels under their asses when they sit down. More often than not, however, it proves to be the perfect recipe needed for a whole lot of loveable and eccentric fun.
Meet Gary Skaggs. Back in 2006, he got a random impulse to buy an eighty dollar piano and turn it into a bike. For years, he toiled at the craft in his garage before he finally finished his masterpiece and started riding it around the city. Today, he’s a local treasure who fully supports himself off riding his piano through the city and playing it for both tourists and locals. He’s not naturally the most gregarious person, but when he sits in that seat, there’s nothing in the world he wants to do more than make people smile.
The above video was put together by The San Francisco Chronicle, and while it doesn’t give a ton of facts, it’s shot in very visually interesting ways. I’m not saying it makes me want to build my own piano bike, but it sure as hell makes me see the appeal.
So, for the record: riding around with a piano in San Francisco > riding around with a cat in Philly.
