In days/weeks/years/centuries filled with ugly, angry, morally inexplicable news (particularly the last day or so, but those are subjects for a different blog), it’s important to remember that not all is lost, that beauty still exists in the world and that supposedly “ugly” things, such as government, can do the right thing.

In the spirit of remembering this, here’s a recent story of what first might appear to be an old partially-buried artillery shell sticking out of the desert. To wit:

Photo 1: What the heck is that? Hint: It’s not an artillery shell. 

The above is a close-up of what we’ll call a “mini-bollard,” a miniature version of one of those standard roughly three-foot objects placed at the head/foot of multi-use paths to prevent motorcycles and Mack Trucks from entering the premises. The next two photos give much better visual context for this mini-bollard:

Photo 2. The “shell” blocking the entrance/exit from Morris N.E. to the I-40 Trail. The grooved concrete wall in the background abuts I-40. Note the black bike tire marks.

Photo 3. A shot that attempts, poorly, to give some idea of overall width of the Morris/I-40 opening, as well as its important location adjacent to a bike/ped bridge over I-40 in the background.

A BB reader reported the existence of the mini-bollard a few weeks back, noting not only its very small, but very sturdy shape (perfect for not being seen, yet still capable of causing a cyclist to go flying into a cyclone fence, a fence pole, the pavement, etc.), but also that, unlike standard bollards, no reflective paint or material existed on the damn thing, whatsoever.

Maybe you, BB reader, have had personal dealings with this mini-bollard. At least a few folks have, for I saw many bike tire marks on the artillery shell, and could only imagine the cyclone fence impressions that must have resulted on the face of those unfortunates.

Surely, something must be done, whether done by a person named Shirley or not.

Now get the Kleenex ready, because this is the part of the story where you’re going to cry in unrestrained happiness at the responsiveness of our local governmental entities. Yes, responsiveness evoking such a positive emotional response is truly possible. To wit:

Photo 4 (Photographer Unknown, perhaps with Albuquerque Parks & Recreation Department). Yes, the dangerous mini-bollard, covered in bike tire marks of the unfortunates, has ceased to be…is no more…is an ex-mini-bollard. 

BB is not so sure those responsible for this very happy ending wish to be personally identified (that’s why the photo above has the guy’s head cut off, e.g.), so we will simply thank the City of Albuquerque and its Parks & Recreation Department, en toto, for its prompt responsiveness and quick remedy to this situation.

As we wind down an election season, with something approaching an atomic bomb countdown level of dread and loathing, while reading seemingly endless stories of all that is wrong with the world, BB readers are encouraged to keep in mind this little story of the mini-bollard and government making things right.

And sure, at least one of you is now thinking “but what’s to keep the motorcycles and Mack Trucks off the I-40 Trail now?” To those folks we’ll just remind them that every solution creates a problem, and that life, and following the news, is a matter of evaluating whether the solution is worth the problem it causes.

And with that happy thought, have a wonderful weekend!