Since I have been training for The MS City to Ride shore this week ( link to the right) I have been noticing things that really get on my nerves. There are two different kinds of drivers. The first kind are those who are extremely cautious of walkers, runners ,bikers etc. The other is (obviously) those who will run you over if you are in the way.
Let's talk about the cautious ones. It's really nice that you are making sure you don't hit me while I am on my bike. I understand your consideration. If I ever fall off my bike, I can only hope that it's you that is driving past me because chances are pretty slim that you are going to run my head over. That being said, it is NOT necessary that you remain 20 feet behind me and follow me down the road. Pass me. I am right next to the curb therefore you have all the room on the road. When you ride behind me like that I feel like you are stalking me and I am waiting for you to ask me if I want any candy. I will probably say yes because I love candy (if you are a little kid..never answer a stranger like that and get off the internet you should not be reading this). But since no one has offered yet, just keeping driving. I am nowhere NEAR being in your way. You may be more likely to hit me when I fall because I am checking behind me every 5 seconds waiting for you to pass.
Now for the the inconsiderate ones. If you drive the way you are supposed to, you wouldn't have to worry about anyone else who may be exercising near you. If the lady that flew around the corner onto a tiny little street at about 70 mph is reading this, I was barely moving because I was being cautious. I am aware of the trees that may block a drivers view of me so I was waiting. Not only was I waiting, I was waiting to cross the street onto the sidewalk to avoid the issue that you almost created. So next time you give someone who is doing the RIGHT thing a dirty look or even better, next time you do that and run someone over because you thought you were in a episode of Knight Rider, I hope you shit your pants and your car smells like poop forever.
Now let's talk about people walking in parking lots. Ok I know that cars are supposed to yield to pedestrians. But come on. I was at Walmart the other day and I sat there and waited about 5 minutes before I could go because apparently they were giving away free samples of crack .The amount of people coming of out that store was ridiculous. No one even looks anymore. They just walk and figure the car will wait for them. You are SUPPOSED to watch for cars. They walk 5 people wide in the middle of a parking lot. When they DO finally notice that a car is beyond them they look surprised (of course they do it is very surprising to see a CAR in a parking lot). But they don't move. They just keep walking. People have no consideration.
After having said all this, I will reveal something that I did about 6 months ago. I was leaving a parking lot and me car was parked between two big trucks. As I walked to my car there wasn't a soul in site. I get in my car and start it (which obviously makes noise). Because I can't see too well with the trucks sticking out further than my car was I looked the best I could and very slowly started to back up (by very slowly I mean I was barely moving). First I hear it in my rear view mirror. Then I see it. What is IT you ask? It is the little Chinese lady that was walking past my car that I hit. Oops. Well I didn't really hit her she seemed to have walked into my car because I wasn't even out of the spot yet. I was just getting ready to turn the wheel. Now if I walking and heard a car start I would know that in about 10 seconds a car is going to pull out. She couldn't see me I know this because the trucks were blocking me but she had to hear me. Luckily, I was aware that I may not been seen and she just bounced a little.HAHA So I put down my window and say I am sorry and ask if she is ok but she just kept on walking like it didn't even phase her. Maybe she was deaf??? Ok then. So I start to back out again after getting over the initial shock that I just had a little bobblehead in my rear view. I knew she wasn't hurt because I wasn't really moving and she just shook it off and went on her way. However, her husband was standing at the car, which was about 200 feet away just looking at me. Dude, if she IS deaf you should be with her and if she isn't you should still be with her to help her with the bags.
So the moral of the story is be cautious but not overly cautious and try not to hit poor little Chinese ladies.
