Where I live, we have a huge influx of tourists in the summer....living at the beach does have it's drawbacks. And one of the local jokes is that there is a basket on the bridge where brains are left for the week. But I'm wondering if it goes deeper than that.
Do people even know the rules of the road, the rules/laws of walking and biking in traffic? I'm thinking it's a skill, a knowledge that is becoming lost. I can't even begin to count the number of people walking in the road the wrong way, biking in the wrong direction and completely ignoring the multi-use path 3 ft from them.
So here we go, this is what I remember from when I was a kid and learning to share the road with cars:
1. If there is a sidewalk or path available....USE IT. It's there to help keep you out of the path of vehicles being driven by distracted drivers.
2. Walk facing traffic, bike with traffic. If you're walking with traffic and have earbuds with music, you'll never hear the car coming up behind you. But if you're walking facing traffic, you give yourself the ability to step out of the way of oncoming traffic.
3. Walk facing traffic, bike with traffic. Bikers you are to go with the flow of traffic but you need to be able to ride steadily and keep to the side of the road.
4. You are small and will break easily. Your body vs a car...you will lose. Be aware of traffic and where you are if you're going to use the road and not the path. A distracted driver may not notice you stepping around a trash can into the lane of travel. A puddle will not kill you, a car can.
5. Dress and equip yourself properly. At night, have lights. Wear light colored, bright colored clothing. Have reflectors. Use a flashlights. The scariest moment for a driver is to be driving along and suddenly realize a mother has let her kids cross a darkened road in front of traffic. True story. The sign that says I have to yield right of way to you will not stop the laws of physics. Also true.
It just worries me to see grown people, adults that should have a little sense, that obviously have no clue. For months, every morning, I saw a young(20-30), fit woman, out jogging...in the road, wearing earbuds, jogging right along with traffic....3 FEET FROM THE PATH. And I wondered then and now...did she just not know? Did she never learn what that path was for? Is she unable to see all the other people using the path? Maybe she thinks they have a special pass, had to pay for the privilege, or maybe it's only for tourists....who knows.
Be safe out there.
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