Ring that bell: Let this be a warning

I recently spent two enchanting days cycling around Katikati. The weather was great and the scenery was just beautiful.

While riding along the Uretara stream, on a perfect winter's day, I approached a strolling senior couple from behind and did my customary ‘pre-warning' bell ringing. Their reaction of surprised delight quickly turned into effusive gratitude.

To my astonishment, they shared the fact, that in all their regular walks, I was the first cyclist, ever, to afford them the courtesy of letting them know that a bike was approaching from the rear. They vividly described their on-going feelings of great anxiety each time a cyclist had silently sped past them unannounced.

To all those ‘bell-less' bikers out there, please be a thoughtful cyclist, spend a couple of dollars, and get a bell that you can use to forewarn all those walking.

Who knows, the day may come, when we are unable to ride a bike and we'll be one of those regular strollers grateful that there are considerate bikers that won't scare us witless each time we walk where paths are shared.

On a brighter note, I can now understand first hand why Katikati is known as such a fantastically friendly place. Without exception, wherever I encountered folk going about their daily business, everyone waved or called out a cheery ‘hello'. I now know why once you are resident here you simply do not want to live anywhere else.

T Carroll, Athenree

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1 comment

perspective

Posted on 25-07-2015 23:29 | By Johnnyredneck

Sounds like first world problems to me.


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