As a pedestrian I often lament how drivers do not look out for us, but I will admit some travelers on foot do not practice good behavior. During marathons streets are cut off and people are permitted to run in these, but on ordinary days runners and walkers should use the sidewalk. The other day I spotted four people running in a row in the street when the sidewalk was nearly empty, and I found that quite amusing. It could not be easy for drivers to navigate around these runners taking up the road, and there was no excuse for them to be in the street.
The same applies to bike riders not sharing the road respectfully. If you are riding a bike then I would definitely go with the flow of traffic and not impede it I have spotted a couple of bicyclists who caused a traffic jam on a windy mountain road by refusing to pull over and allow the motorists to pass. On such roads it would just be courtesy to pull to the shoulder of the road and let faster traffic pass. Causing a traffic jam is never a good idea, and I have heard quite a few tales about bicyclists who make driving difficult. I used to like bike riding on flat land, but I hate riding up and down hills, and prefer to walk because I do not feel safe riding with traffic. Also, I would not want to cause traffic jams since I know I ride a bike slower than others.
So just because there are a lot of bad drivers out there does not mean that pedestrians, runners, and bicyclists are immune. I even read one forum where a bicyclist was commenting on how he did not care if he was impeding traffic, and how people were jealous of his toned legs, and a lot of the drivers were probably obese. Humble much? So I think it is great to get our exercise and be fit, but keep in mind being courtesy in the world is also an element of this.
Some of us are pedestrians because we hate driving. Walking is a healthy and smart way to cut down on transportation costs and the gym bill. Take time to celebrate nature by walking through it! Now that I am also riding a bicycle, this blog will feature some of my thoughts on this new mode of transportation.
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Walking Everywhere, and Anywhere!
Every now and then I will update this blog with thoughts about walking, and being a pedestrian in Southern California. Between 2014-2017, this blog also featured several posts about my bicycle adventures around Southern California, but as of 2018 I am back to just being a pedestrian. Riding a bike was fun until someone through a water bottle in my chain one day late at night, so since that time I have just felt safer walking.
You make a good point. Pedestrians and bikers also should obey traffic laws. Courtesy goes a long way to keep accidents from happening.
ReplyDeleteMy father used to hate it when people in Israel would go walking right in he middle of the road, when they had plenty of room on the sides, even when there was no sidewalk. Sometimes they did it just so as not to get their shoes dirty.
In Taiwan, things were really strange. No sidewalks any place, and people just taking their chances, walking or pushing strollers with babies in them. I never drove there, because it was too chaotic and hard to understand how to avoid hitting someone.
But in the U.S., especially in rural areas, people are very courteous. One car will pull aside so another can pass down a lonely dirt road. And people wave hello as they go by.
I am glad in rural areas people are more courtesy, and I did actually experience that even in Reno, as opposed to some service you receive in California. I remember walking in a donut store where the people who act rude if you would buy something from them, so I never went back. I have heard Egypt has some of the worst driving and pedestrian situations. People walk in the street with empty sidewalks there, and Egyptian drivers do not stop at lights at all.
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