I’ve been hesitant to type this one out because the handful of people I’ve told in person have been aghast, disgusted, disappointed and shocked.  I really felt the same way at their reactions, because – don’t you people know me by now?!

It’s does make me feel good that I can still surprise people, I guess.

I’m a noticer by nature.  I don’t stare at my phone in the car and I can change the radio stations with clever little buttons on the backside of the steering wheel so I tend to look around because, you know, driving a [potential] murder wagon and all. 

When school started back up a couple weeks ago my average residential neighborhood speed went from 24mph to 18mph.  There are children and pets and things and I don’t want to have to scrape any off my tires so I just slow down. I’m always late for work anyway so what’s another 10 minutes?! Being hypervigilant, when I catch sight of a pedcycle (not to be confused with a motorcycle) I watch until they are out of sight, they cannot be trusted.

Sitting at a red light, waiting to cross a main thoroughfare from one residential block to another I see a girl on a bike. On the sidewalk. Staring at her phone. I got bristly. She is on the sidewalk, riding parallel to a green lane encased by bollards. There are people on the sidewalk, she’s about to ride into a cluster of people waiting for the bus and she has no idea because she has not taken her eyes off her phone. There is a pause in my hostile thoughts because I have to give her accolades for being able to ride one handed, keeping her balance, with the phone in her face. Oh to be young, right?!

My light turns green.  She hasn’t stopped, hasn’t slowed, hasn’t even looked up.  Heh.  Two can play that game.

I proceeded across the main street and I arrived to the edge of the cross walk as she was only a quarter of the way to the other side.  The road directly in front of my car.  I laid on the horn.  Not a tap. Not a toot.  I blasted her right to 25mg of hydrochlorothiazide.  She was visibly startled.  She looked at me, she looked at the light. She realized her error in judgement and she peddled really hard. 

And, as always, this story has a happy ending! Not that she’s been ended, but I continue to see her every other day on my way to work. And she is always standing with her bike at the corner waiting for the light to turn green. Still staring at her phone, but it’s a start.

You’re Welcome!