Before going on, I must proclaim that I have nothing against cyclists or bicycles, I am ok with them riding the 2 wheels pedal-driven transport around the neighbourhood. I can't cycle for nuts and I wish I could so that I can save some leg walk and money when I need to get around the neighbourhood. However, some inconsiderate cyclists has made this into a love-hate relationship.
DinoBoy's school is about 10mins walk from our house, we always enjoy the slow walk to & fro the school, taking the chance to chat about school, discuss that day's dinner plan or just plain nonsensical chatting. Many a times during our walk and chat we were interrupted by some cyclists who pressed on their bell many times, some times from a far and most of the time with no intention of slowing down while expecting us to get out of their way FAST! They fail to understand that it can take longer then usual for some reaction to take place especially when you are with a child, carrying heavy school bag and sometimes with groceries. Instead of being patient, the cyclist continue to press on their bell vigorously, maintaining the same "zoom-zoom" speed while the distance between us gets shorter and shorter.
Take a look at the photo below, you can see that the path way is not wide, it is already "squeezy" with a man and a cyclist side by side. Imagine DinoBoy and me with his big school bag on one shoulder and my bag on the other, we practically take up 2/3 of the space. With the cyclist flying towards us in top speed, we are often being forced out of the path way and onto the sometimes muddy grass patch.
Many a times the cyclist zooms passed us too close for our comfort. During morning rush hours, the path way is always crowded with people walking along it, the cyclists still rides at fast speed, oblivious to others' safety. Once, an elderly uncle zoom passed DinoBoy almost knocking into him, DinoPapa was unhappy and shouted at him to be careful, the uncle slowed down, turned around and hurl vulgarities at him before zooming off again!
I really do not think we; the pedestrians, deserve such a treatment from cyclists. There is a reason why this sign was put up at both ends of the path way.
I got really frustrated with their inconsiderate selfish thinking that they have the right of way over the pedestrians on the path way.
I protested on my own, I made DinoBoy walked at the side while I walked in the centre, when I hear the irritable familiar "ding ding ding ding" sound coming from behind us, I ignore it. I continue to walk with no intention of giving way to them. When the cyclist is flying towards us, I stare at the cyclist hard, daring him to continue at that speed, they usually slowed down when they see my murderous stare.
Then I grew tired. All these makes me tensed up, sometimes I will start scolding under my breath, using words that I do not allow DinoBoy to say and feeling guilty when DinoBoy caught the words and questioned me. Our pleasant 10mins walk turns out to be stressful and unhappy.
Well, they say "If you can't beat them, join them!" I wish I can but this mama is not going to go out and get a bicycle to learn how to cycle it, risk falling down, scraping my kneecaps, breaking my arms and legs in the process. Ok ok I'm exaggerating I know but you get the idea. Plus, going through the hard work of learning to cycle just to join the "baddie" and "bully" the others? No Thanks!
So what did we do? We start taking the public bus to school! No more chatting and additional money spent on transport but we get to enjoy 5mins of cooling air condition which we welcome with open arms especially during the hot and humid mornings. We still walk back home from school as there were far lesser "threats" at that time and have our usual casual chatting about the day's event.
In the end, we won the battle, so to say. We took action and removed ourselves from that danger zone. And we end up "Happily Ever After".
~ ~ ~
Linking up with
I really hate inconsiderate cyclist also. Really hope that the relevant authorities will step up their rounds and really fine these people.
ReplyDeleteI really hate such cyclist too. Hope that they do get fine for their reckless actions.
ReplyDeleteWe still have a long way to go to get there. Who will be there to catch them and slap the fine on them?
DeleteOops! I'm a cyclist, but a pretty considerate one, stepping into the shoes of pedestrians & motorists. I don't ring the bell unless need to, & only once, after which I would say 'thank you' to whoever gave way to me. I do agree with you that most leisure cyclists think that pedestrians should give away. I refuse to think so. Singapore has yet to have designated cycling path along the road for cyclists, so they should not think so. The professional cyclists are more considerate, you know, those with proper gears. I do take my time to give way to impatient cyclists at times :-P
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm sure there are some that are nice and patient cyclists but rare. The gov (or some one) needs to do much more in order to push out the msg and create awareness on this. Dismount and push should be the way along pathways.
DeleteI almost got into an "incident" with one this morning after dropping Dumpling off from school. I turned out from a side road into a main road and suddenly a cyclist came charging towards the same lane. I don't know who almost had a heart attack! I do not know which is worse - those that think that they are able to pedal at 80km/hr on the main road (where in fact they are doing a measly 30km/hr if we are even 'lucky') or those who cycles on the pathways and side walks meant only for pedestrians. TSK
ReplyDeleteBOTH! They think they are Iron Man! I always believe that one must exercise extra caution while on the road becoz you are using your body to "fight" against those vehicles, definitely at the losing end. They don't seem to think so and believe that drivers will give way to them and when tragedy happens its always the drivers who are the guilty ones.
DeleteEh. u want to join them, u can buy skate-scooter and attach a bell also?
ReplyDeleteDon't want! That scooter thing is also something I don't like! Kids scooting around and almost knocking into us. The parents just see n never say anything.
DeleteI had the same prob back in my prev work~ Generally, I think Singaporeans juz don't have the same mindset, plus our roads are so narrow! Unlike the ones in Tokyo, the roads are wide. Basically, I think Singapore is trying to be world class ctry but still have amenities like that of a third class
ReplyDeleteThey want to build wider roads for the vehicles, eating into the pathway and our HDB flats, where will they have land to build bicycle lanes? Definitely trying to be world class country and hindered by some stuffs out there.
DeleteNo need to learn how to cycle. Just buy a bicycle bell and whenever someone "ding ding ding" u from behind, u just "ding ding ding" back in his/her face! LOL. Okay, that's something I'd do. I have a bell on my bicycle but I seldom use it.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! but... that is if I have free hands to grab the bell n ding ding ding them back FAST hahah~
DeleteAh! I was nodding the whole time reading the angry part of the post. I mean, we live in the same neighbourhood and there really are a lot of cyclists here, and it doesnt help that the pathways are indeed squeezy! More often than not when I am walking with a kid in hand and pushing a stroller, and I hear a ding ding ding, I get so pissed off because errr HELLO, where do u expect me to move with a stroller????? ugh. And no babe, I can't take the bus with the stroller as well. So looks like no happy ending for me!
ReplyDeleteExactly! Like u have super power n can lift the stroller up above your head and make way for them to zoom pass right?
DeleteDon't give way, or if u do, take your time. If they ding ding ding again turn ard and lash out at them. I would!
There was once a Mum on a bicycle with a P5-P6 boy in front. Ding ding ding me n DinoBoy, I ignore and continue talking to him. The boy exclaimed "Ma! You see them!" Before I turn around n glared at him the mum told the boy off.