The ungratefulness of it all
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The ungratefulness of it all
Out riding this morning around 10am and come up on a woman walking her dog on a 15 foot leash. Approaching from behind I watch her steadily move from the right tire track to the middle of the road as that is the direction the dog is pulling her. She is face down into a cell phone, oblivious to her surroundings. I let out a whistle and go around her. As I go around I simply say to her, "You are going to get hit". The dog barks and she starts yelling at me as I pedal away.
Sure, I may have startled her, but I may also have saved her life. Ungrateful.
Sure, I may have startled her, but I may also have saved her life. Ungrateful.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18349 Post(s)
Liked 4,502 Times
in
3,346 Posts
Did she yell back to you that you'll get HIT?
I see a lot of walkers on bike paths, but generally those on the roads are pretty well off on the road shoulders, except at least one low-speed road up in Portland with no road shoulders that people just walk down the middle of the road (and generally move aside for cars).
I did see a guy a couple of days ago happily walking down the bike path, right next to the sidewalk.
I see a lot of walkers on bike paths, but generally those on the roads are pretty well off on the road shoulders, except at least one low-speed road up in Portland with no road shoulders that people just walk down the middle of the road (and generally move aside for cars).
I did see a guy a couple of days ago happily walking down the bike path, right next to the sidewalk.
#3
Senior Member
This thread is in the same line as the one about seeing other cyclists doing something wrong do you tell them?
Opinions are split.
Opinions are split.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
Just another social media zombie. They're everywhere... people wandering around with their heads down looking at their phones, totally unaware of their surroundings.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,545
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5222 Post(s)
Liked 3,576 Times
in
2,340 Posts
sounds like a harsh reaction. I'm not a dog owner/walker, so I wonder if they are regularly subjected to criticisms from ppl about their dog, in general, that would cause such a reaction
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,212
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18397 Post(s)
Liked 15,485 Times
in
7,316 Posts
I have physically grabbed two different cell phone zombies to prevent them from walking out into traffic at corners.
The way I see it, she owes you a pizza. The reality is is that she probably continued her same behavior.
During my commute home yesterday afternoon I had to smack a minivan. Driver was on the phone. It was pressed against the right side of her face. She was in the bike lane, moved out as I was approaching her from behind and then drifted back as I was starting to pass her. I yelled. Got no response, so I gave the side of her van an open-handed smack and yelled "Hang up and drive!". She moved left, but at no time did she alter her behavior vis-à-vis the phone.
The way I see it, she owes you a pizza. The reality is is that she probably continued her same behavior.
During my commute home yesterday afternoon I had to smack a minivan. Driver was on the phone. It was pressed against the right side of her face. She was in the bike lane, moved out as I was approaching her from behind and then drifted back as I was starting to pass her. I yelled. Got no response, so I gave the side of her van an open-handed smack and yelled "Hang up and drive!". She moved left, but at no time did she alter her behavior vis-à-vis the phone.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Perhaps the best move would have been to whiz past her and the dog out in the middle of the road and let natural selection take its course.
Likes For TiHabanero:
#8
For The Fun of It
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,845
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2134 Post(s)
Liked 1,643 Times
in
825 Posts
The devious side of me wants to get one of those canned air horns one day and serve a good wake up to the oblivious.
Likes For Paul Barnard:
#10
Half way there
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,955
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 985 Post(s)
Liked 879 Times
in
526 Posts
Wow! Why not just accept that some folks are in their own little world and just ease past them in the safest but least challenging way. You got the reaction that you prodded her for and now it's bugging you.
Likes For Moe Zhoost:
#11
Full Member
I don’t think it helps to say stuff. An extra friendly good morning from deep within will temporarily snap a zombie out of it and simultaneously, hopefully, help them realize that other people actually get up in the morning too.
#12
Cycleway town
Likes For MikeyMK:
#13
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
Out riding this morning around 10am and come up on a woman walking her dog on a 15 foot leash. Approaching from behind I watch her steadily move from the right tire track to the middle of the road as that is the direction the dog is pulling her. She is face down into a cell phone, oblivious to her surroundings. I let out a whistle and go around her. As I go around I simply say to her, "You are going to get hit". The dog barks and she starts yelling at me as I pedal away.
Sure, I may have startled her, but I may also have saved her life. Ungrateful.
Sure, I may have startled her, but I may also have saved her life. Ungrateful.
Cheers
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,612
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1065 Post(s)
Liked 780 Times
in
502 Posts
Every bike I have has a BELL. Dog + Human = Bell rung about 100' away. If only the dog responds by looking at me I ring again and again until the inattentive human responds.
Problem averted.
Problem averted.
#18
Senior Member
Retractable leashes aren't meant for the sidewalks or streets. Here is a video I caught on my dashcam showing a dog running into the street and almost getting run over because the owner wasn't paying attention with the retractable leash (keep your eyes on the right side of the screen)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hairy Hands
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
34
10-16-10 01:06 PM