Before going on, I must proclaim that I have nothing against cyclists or bicycles, I am ok with them riding the 2 wheels pedal-driven transport around the neighbourhood. I can't cycle for nuts and I wish I could so that I can save some leg walk and money when I need to get around the neighbourhood. However, some inconsiderate cyclists has made this into a love-hate relationship.
DinoBoy's school is about 10mins walk from our house, we always enjoy the slow walk to & fro the school, taking the chance to chat about school, discuss that day's dinner plan or just plain nonsensical chatting. Many a times during our walk and chat we were interrupted by some cyclists who pressed on their bell many times, some times from a far and most of the time with no intention of slowing down while expecting us to get out of their way FAST! They fail to understand that it can take longer then usual for some reaction to take place especially when you are with a child, carrying heavy school bag and sometimes with groceries. Instead of being patient, the cyclist continue to press on their bell vigorously, maintaining the same "zoom-zoom" speed while the distance between us gets shorter and shorter.
Take a look at the photo below, you can see that the path way is not wide, it is already "squeezy" with a man and a cyclist side by side. Imagine DinoBoy and me with his big school bag on one shoulder and my bag on the other, we practically take up 2/3 of the space. With the cyclist flying towards us in top speed, we are often being forced out of the path way and onto the sometimes muddy grass patch.
Many a times the cyclist zooms passed us too close for our comfort. During morning rush hours, the path way is always crowded with people walking along it, the cyclists still rides at fast speed, oblivious to others' safety. Once, an elderly uncle zoom passed DinoBoy almost knocking into him, DinoPapa was unhappy and shouted at him to be careful, the uncle slowed down, turned around and hurl vulgarities at him before zooming off again!
I really do not think we; the pedestrians, deserve such a treatment from cyclists. There is a reason why this sign was put up at both ends of the path way.
I got really frustrated with their inconsiderate selfish thinking that they have the right of way over the pedestrians on the path way.
I protested on my own, I made DinoBoy walked at the side while I walked in the centre, when I hear the irritable familiar "ding ding ding ding" sound coming from behind us, I ignore it. I continue to walk with no intention of giving way to them. When the cyclist is flying towards us, I stare at the cyclist hard, daring him to continue at that speed, they usually slowed down when they see my murderous stare.
Then I grew tired. All these makes me tensed up, sometimes I will start scolding under my breath, using words that I do not allow DinoBoy to say and feeling guilty when DinoBoy caught the words and questioned me. Our pleasant 10mins walk turns out to be stressful and unhappy.
Well, they say "If you can't beat them, join them!" I wish I can but this mama is not going to go out and get a bicycle to learn how to cycle it, risk falling down, scraping my kneecaps, breaking my arms and legs in the process. Ok ok I'm exaggerating I know but you get the idea. Plus, going through the hard work of learning to cycle just to join the "baddie" and "bully" the others? No Thanks!
So what did we do? We start taking the public bus to school! No more chatting and additional money spent on transport but we get to enjoy 5mins of cooling air condition which we welcome with open arms especially during the hot and humid mornings. We still walk back home from school as there were far lesser "threats" at that time and have our usual casual chatting about the day's event.
In the end, we won the battle, so to say. We took action and removed ourselves from that danger zone. And we end up "Happily Ever After".
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