I thought about the encounter with Jack and his Hummer for the past two days. Today, after some encouragement, I decided that I was going to leave the letter on his windshield. I rode past his house and saw the car in his driveway. I thought about it, but then changed my mind. Instead, I was going to talk to Jack.
I rang the doorbell and a woman about my age answered. I asked for Jack. She looked confused, but she got him. I introduced myself. I told him I was his neighbor. I told him what happened Monday morning. I wasn't surprised when he told me that he did not see me. I told him about my experience as a cyclist. If I were a child, I may not have know what to do. That could have disastrous.
I intentionally tried to stay away from being too preachy or high and mighty. Instead, I was just trying to get him to pay more attention. I don't know, but I felt as if I got my point across. In the end, he even asked about my bike. He also promised to check out yeildtolife.org.
I hope our little conversation will help Jack to pay more attention. I ended up handing him the letter in the end. I did not stick around to see if he read it. I had to make dinner for my family.
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Money not spent on gasoline: $29.45
CO2 not released into the atmosphere: 185.13
(Sorry, I have not been keeping up with this like I should)
3 comments:
Rick, you are awesome. Not many people would do what you did and actually confront in a positive manner like that. Good for you.
Solid brass.
That sound you hear in the background is the collective eye-rolling of all of my students who have heard this story too many times...
A number of years ago my wife had a major medical emergency. I was rushing her to the hospital. I was driving like a jerk, but it was about 4:00am. It was me and two other cars on 315.
I must have made one of the other cars mad because he pulled up next to me and gave me the double finger. Then, he pulled in front of me and slammed on his brakes. Then, he sped off.
I belive with all of my soul that he would have never done that if he had known why I was driving the way I was.
I think one of the problems with civility is that people do not know as many people as we used to. It is easy to be a jerk to a person in car because that person is not known.
Driving is a great example because everyone has been frustrated by someone else's driving. Have you ever yelled, "Come on grandma! Hit the gas!" Would you yell that if she was walking in front of you. Would you allow someone to talk like that to your grandma?
My goal was to put a face to the cyclist. I have changed so many people's minds just by being nice.
I think Xtracycle says it best, "Be a good butterfly."
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