Silly me! Last year, because of where I lived, I was forced to drive my kids to school every day. I quickly discovered that the hug-n-go (or kiss-n-catch) lane sounded so friendly but wasn't friendly at all. What is it with parents so angry that they scream, honk and road-rage like someone's life depended on getting to school? Soon, I found it was better for my own sanity and my kids safety to park at a neighboring park and walk in.
Even then, we also saw our fair share of angry parents yelling, cursing and edging their vehicles up too close to the Crossing Guard. Even the local police department regularly had to dispatch an officer to help assist. Have we seriously gotten to the point where a police officer is necessary to help manage crossing the street because of parents? Seriously!?! Get off your dang cell phone, take a "chill-pill" and settle the freak down.
Anyway, over the summer I was delighted to be able to move within walking distance of the school and filled my imagination with lovely hand-in-hand walks and family bike rides to and from school. What I discovered was walking paths filled with ignorant, unaware dangers on two legs, four legs and/or two wheels.
Before school started I took the kids on several bike rides teaching them basic safety concepts. How to let someone know you'll be passing on the left, how to watch out for dogs on and off leash, how to stop at stop signs and look both ways, how to cross streets safely, etc.
Let's fast forward three weeks into the school year. Today was the second day I was run off the path by a family riding not two, not three but four abreast. FOUR ABREAST! This included the mom who was pulling toddlers in a bike trailer. Politely I called out, "On your left." 10 seconds later, I'm yelling, "on your left, on your left!!!" Mom made eye contact and utterly refused to move and off the path and down the hill I went. Yesterday, my daughter sustained some serious tire burn and peddle gouges because a small child on a razor scooter couldn't seem to figure out which way was was right or left and so proceeded to go back and forth. The day before that my son was forced to crash because a family was walking four abreast and didn't yield. Although to be fair, the Dad did end up letting his kids have it over that one.
It's pretty simple folks. I get that often times your kids are learning how to ride and how to ride safely. When there is no one on the path I understand the family riding in a big group. However, when there are people coming and going, some are on foot, some walking a dog(s) (and sometimes even on a leash too tho don't EVEN get me started here), some are on scooters, some bikes you MUST ride in single file and stay on your right. The path just isn't that wide. When someone says, "On your left" be courteous and make sure you and your entourage, including your crazy dog, is complying. If you see someone riding towards you, yelling "on your left, on your left!" and you and your entourage is three or four abreast get into single file.
If you or a member of your entourage get confused and accidentally run someone off the path or make them crash, STOP AND APOLOGIZE. Take a moment to make sure the person you ran off the path is OK and not injured.
The woman who knowingly ran me off the road today responded with a very sarcastic "excuse me" when I expressed frustration at being run off the path. I'm sorry did I inconvenience you? Because you are welcome to ask my "girl-parts" how they are feeling after contact with a metal bar because of your stupidity.
For anyone who wants to learn a little more about basic bike etiquette here is a link: http://www.ibike.org/education/trail-sharing.htm. Please, please, please take the time to educate yourself and your family.
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