* Let's say you're riding your bike across the campus sidewalks. At a pedestrian intersection, you see that if you maintain your current rate, there's a good chance you will collide with a mother, who is walking along, holding her newborn in a baby-carrier.
What do you do?
A) Slow down, and let the infant-toting mother pass you.
B) Speed up, and risk that if there be a collision, it will be more spectacular.
C) Don't change anything, and hope the mother changes her pace.
Personally, I would choose A. Why risk it?
But, today, I was on campus at DSC, helping Stanton with the newspaper. At one point, Stanton had to do a quick interview, so I sat outside and watched the girls file by. ]
Anyhow, in the midst of this, I see a biker in the scenario listed above. He chose option B. However, an accident was much closer than he had anticipated, and he came tantalizing close to drilling this mother and her child while traveling at an optimal bike speed. The results could have been disastrous, but fortunately the mother stepped back at just the right time.
Needless to say, I was upset that the biker gambled and risked harming this mother and her baby.
Bikes are not a weapon, but they can be dangerous devices when not operated properly, cautiously and considerately. And when there's a newborn involved, speed must be sacrificed when it ensures the safety of that child.
Getting there quickly must always yield to ensuring that we all just get there.
