To the young ladies with earphones in who decided to cross a pedestrian crossing on Chichester Street (Belfast) this morning while the traffic lights were green: bikes are traffic too and you’re gosh darned lucky I’m not a car or bus and was able to swerve to avoid you. I regret that your ear attachments may have prevented you from hearing the important instructional message that I attempted to convey by means of shouting, but think perhaps my sign language message will have been understood.
I had to clamp on the brakes hard enough that I started to skid, and even the sight/sound of a hefty MTB and hefty(ish) rider in hi-vis gear, feet away and sliding sideways towards you at around 20mph failed to elicit even a glance in my direction. I think it would have taken me to actually explode to get you to notice me.
You were lucky this time, but Darwin will win in the end.
