Tuesday Tirade: Cyclists and Pedestrians

I haven’t written a tirade in about a month. Must mean I’m happy about everything, right?

I was cycling the other day and the slower cyclist in front of me was straddling the center line on the path, so I rang my bell (yes, I have one. Beats yelling—more on the later) and he moved over slightly. I gave a slight two-finger wave (index-middle—better than the one-finger) as I passed. I had to stop at the red light which gave the opportunity for the cyclist to catch up. As the cross-traffic light turned yellow, he started to peddle and passed me as we crossed the street.

Now I have to pass him again. Shoulda used that one finger . . .

Now to the walkers with earbuds/headphones. As I approach the walker in the middle of the path:

I ring my bell twice.
I ring my bell three times, then four.
I say louder, “Behind you.”
I say even louder, “Behind you!”
I have to yell, “BEHIND YOU!”

Finally, they turn around, startled, and move to the left—before skittling to the right.

“Sorry,” they say.

What can I say? As a Canadian, I am obliged to counter with, “That’s OK.” (it’s not).

If I have to yell at you, your music is too loud.

---

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

Sign up for my weekly newsletter and receive a free book!