You know there's a rant coming!
I am a fast walker when I walk. I also now cycle to the station but on the way to work, I need to cycle a section on the pavement on the main road to the station because the road is really narrow and the drivers are really aggressive at rush hour. I am aware that it is not ideal that I need to cycle on the pavement for this section. But there aren't loads of pedestrians at that time and I am always careful and either go around or jump off my bike and run in front of them.
But the fact is....I am getting increasingly tired of pedestrians who are
a) walking with ear phones in
b) walking looking down at their phone.
They have NO awareness of ANYONE around them. I am surprised that there are not more accidents. They also walk slower than anyone who is unplugged and somehow seem to walk right in the middle of the pavement but irritatingly veer from side to side slightly meaning it is really hard to get past them. Why are they so oblivious to the world around them? I always say, "Sorry, I am just nipping past you when I go past people. The ones who are plugged in have no idea and it just makes me sad that people are not noticing the world around them.
I then look around me in the train carriage. The other day, out of the 23 people in my section of the carriage, 19 people had earphones in. I just find it really sad. Yes, I do look at my phone on the train (I also read), but I do have an awareness of those around me!
Let's unplug and gain some awareness of the world around us!
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
18 comments:
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I don't ride a bike but I'm there with you. I can't understand why people are not more aware. They will get a rude awakening one of these days by another one who is plugged in and not paying attention. It's just a matter of time...
ReplyDeleteHugs, Julia
I just find it sad and scary for them to be so oblivious to the world around them. It's like people are afraid to be left with their own thoughts or silence!x
DeleteI'm with you! I think it's just so sad that people are absorbed with tech and oblivious to the world around them. It's dog walkers that are either looking at screens or on a call that confuse me; all that time to enjoy the countryside with your best pal and they're preoccupied and barely notice anything at all.
ReplyDeleteHow can we change this?
Yes, what's the point of having a dog if you are not going to actually engage with them! I just worry that people are going to get trapped more and more in this tech trap!
DeleteI understand how you feel. One of the older ladies I work with recently gave up driving. She was so scared of the people stepping out into the road without looking due to being on their phone and worried that her reaction time would be too slow to stop.
ReplyDeleteI can understand her fear! It's just sad and quite selfish!
DeleteFollowing the recent case of the cyclist who ended up being sued I am in total agreement. I'm glad others are supporting him.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/fund-for-cyclist-who-hit-woman-on-phone-soars-past-50k-a4174216.html. On my cycle route to church, I frequently encounter people walking on the cycle path oblivious to anything else. I ring my bell, slow down, and nowadays shout "excuse me" in my best teacher-playground-voice. And then they look at me as if I'm the one in the wrong place!
I was reading about that. It is so shocking! Well done to you for standing up for the cycle lane!
DeleteOh however, I am an aggressive pedestrian who would be inclined to tell you that the path is not for cycling on if you overtook me.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that the road is unsafe but I would rudely point out that if you want to be on the path you ought to dismount. Aren't I officious?!.
I get angry with people cycling on the road when there is a cycle path, that really winds me up. But I don't mind considerate cyclists on the pavements.
DeleteYes, you are officious Sophie! :-p
xx
I know the rule about not riding on the pavement and I am very cautious and hesitant about it but I will only overtake if it is safe to do so and I never ring my bell at people, I always say, "I hope it is ok if I just try and nip past you please." if there is space. If there isn't space, quite often, I get off and run around them (usually very slow pedestrians) or if they have ear phones in, do the same. You are well within your right to tell people they shouldn't be on the pavement but at the same time, the main road near us is really, really narrow (I was cycling along the road itself on the way home from work and a bus overtook me and if I hadn't leapt of my bike and jumped onto the pavement, I am quite sure I would be dead by now. People around here are really aggressive. Just on Friday, a man in a monster truck was pulling out of his drive and took up the whole pavement so I couldn't get past. I was soooooo late for work and was about to miss a train. As you do, I was saying, "Hurry up, hurry up!!" and unfortunately, his window was open. I had got off m bike at this point and walked into his drive to try and edge past the fence to get by. As he pulled more out into the road, he opened the other window and shouted at me, "What ARE you f***ing doing?" As I faltered and said, "Sorry?" he replied, "How f****ing dare you tell me to hurry up". I replied, "Sorry but I am really late!" He yelled, "Aren't we all." As I replied again, "Sorry, but please do not swear at me!" he suddenly realised that there was a gap in the traffic and roared off. I was shaken for the next half an hour. Even CBC, who is a very competent cyclist, sometimes rides on that pavement as it really is dangerous at that time of day.
DeleteI know someone who always has headphones in on public transport so no men will try to hit on her. Apparently that happens to her often enough that she feels the need to take precautions.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed by how many people are on their phones in restaurants. I frequently see couples who are obviously out for a meal together both staring at their phones and ignoring each other .
I think this too!It's so bizarre!
DeleteAgreed. Though I realise some people wear headphones because they don't want other people to talk to them on public transport, but those people CAN hear or are aware of what's going on, so that's not the people on the pavement. It's the same in the wheelchair, it's amazing how many people are oblivious to me. I realise when I'm coming up behind someone, the chair is silent, but nobody seems to be aware that being out in public means you will encounter public. Regardless of being plugged in or not, people love to dilly dally and not realise others may be wanting to get by and have places to go!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness I couldn't agree with you more! I've just returned from London and can't get over the huge volume of people that just aren't present, but distracted by phones. My own particular gripe is when you are in company and someone is more engaged with their phone than with you! It's so darned rude. And yes it's surprising that there aren't more accidents caused by this lack of attention to personal safety. I recently read about an accident where a cyclist collided with a pedestrian who was crossing the road while looking at her phone wearing earplugs. He called to her, rang his bell, tried to swerve to avoid her but she swerved in the same direction and he and she collided and were both knocked out cold. She has sued him for damages and he is now about to be made bankrupt. Surely she was at fault not him? OK, rant over. Anyway, I would like to see a ban to this on he move interaction like they have in cars x
ReplyDeleteMy husband feels the same way, he often rants about it too. He even has a word for them, for plugs being used on the street: mazlumatori, not sure how to translate it. Mazlum is word present in a local dialect, it comes from Arabic word (mazlum) meaning someone who has been badly treated. I think he wants to say they are mistreating themselves?
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised (or maybe not!) how many customers come to my library desk to be served, while wearing headphones, who then silently give me their library card while I'm supposed to read their mind as to what they require...it is very annoying! Wish they would take their headphones out and actually speak to me!
ReplyDeleteI was nearly hit by a car the other day because I was checking my phone quickly. It was a reminder that it's a silly thing to do. I don't wear headphones is public - ever - because it makes me feel vulnerable, but I do check my phone from time to time - just quickly - but it only takes a moment for something to go wrong. My phone will stay in my bag from now on, just as it does when I'm driving - there's a rant I could have! I think all cars should be fitted with a signal blocker so people absolutely can't use phones whilst driving!
ReplyDeleteXX