under the collar that is. So I'm riding home from work, it's minus 23 degrees outside and I'm crossing the 14th St. bridge on the Bow river BIKE PATHWAYS. There is a man and his dog walking towards me and I think I'll say hello because it's very Canadian to say hello to other people out in the cold suffering like you are. As I approach this guy he yells out to me "Get of the sidewalk please". I am taken aback by his comment as I think to myself that 1)I'm on a bike path 2)It has been snowing for the past 10 days 3)The streets don't get plowed in Calgary so it's too dangerous to bike on the street 4) I'm on a bike path 5) They do clear the bike paths in winter (probably to encourage bike communters not to ride on the street where they will likely be killed in minutes). 6) This guy is an asshole and 7) Did Imention I am on a bike path. Anyway, I thought I'd see what's up and what did I find out... 14th Street is a BIKE/Pedestrian Bridge as noted on the river pathways map no matter what the season, all pathways are shared use during the winter months, and that generally people who yell at cyclists are assholes. I really hope I get to see this guy again tomorrow..... (ps, yes, I even had to grow a beard like this guy to stay warm this winter and I don't have any arms either and I still got yelled at)
2 comments:
That would make me go ballistic. Stuart had a similar experience of being yelled at by an anti-bike ignoramus (but I think he was a little less justified in his rage.) Keep on peddling. Hope you two are well! :)
julie
Andrea! Just thought I would pass on a little piece of advice I learned from my associate teacher today (I'm on a practicum placement in a grade 8 classroom). If someone is being a wanker (such as the man dishing out the Hate-o-rade comments to you on 14th), find out where he/ she lives, pull out your trusty chain saw and re-landscape his/ her yard. All the best with your tree chopping designs.
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