Covid Rant…..not really
We take walks as often as we can at a nearby county park. Nice wide paved trails provide a reasonable spacing between people traveling opposite directions. There are very few people wearing masks, but probably a third of those not wearing – pull up their shirts or swing out onto the grass to put extra distance between them and us.
Then there are the runners and bike riders who zoom past, usually not caring how close the come to the walkers. They are the primary reason we wear our masks – these people are breathing hard, huffing and puffing as the pass within a foot or two – leaving a trail of virus laced mist behind. Or so, at 65+ person needs to be thinking about. We wouldn’t be out there if we were seriously afraid, but it costs so little to add a little bit of protection and I don’t mind, reminding people that they should be considering masks too.
But a bit of a rant further on the bicyclists (if I can call them that). I used to ride in groups with other cyclists. If you do that, you learn quickly there are conventions that regular cyclists use, not only for the safety of others but themselves too. When a cyclist passes a person on a sidewalk – typically people walk or slow ride on the right – and the cyclist passes on the left. It is good form to call out “On Your Left” a few seconds before you pass. This gives the person some warning (can’t always hear a rear approaching bike). It also helps insure someone doesn’t turn left, let a dog or kid wander into the bikes path. This becomes even more important for the riders puffing along at 20 miles per hour.
In all the days on the trail so far, we’ve been passed by about 25 riders – and ONLY ONE has bothered to call out their presence, some silent at very high speeds. Often, we are in a group of 6 or 7 people, with young kids and small dogs. Just the sort of group a rider should be wary of overtaking in surprise mode. I eventually started calling out “On Your Left” as they passed, but even that hasn’t raised any notice in the riders. It seems they have no understanding of the risks. Maybe these are all Covid refugees that bought a bike on Amazon and escaped their isolation while oblivious of riding conventions. Maybe getting Covid and getting over it, just makes you stupid.
Rant two. We have two small dogs that sometimes go with us. And as dogs do, our dogs always leave us a present along the way – which we always pick up with our ever present doggie bags. The park also provides doggie bags and the start of the trails. There is always the random dog owner who never picks up after their dogs, but thankfully most do. BUT, the park has put away all the trash cans (apparently picking up trash is somehow Covid-dangerous), and a number of dog owners, despite picking up after their dogs; when they get back to the parking lot (some don’t wait that long), they discard the filled doggie bag alongside the trail. What is wrong with people?
Don’t answer that, we don’t have time for that long a list.
Mike