Do you stay in your lane? Although we each have one, it seems that many are out there wandering around with no consideration for anyone else's lane. Staying in your lane means: knowing who you are; defining your space, boundaries, and limits; awareness of others; being proactive not reactive; and, being as polite as possible when someone is so far into your lane that they stomp on your toes or pee on your foot.
YOU are not the ONLY PERSON in the world!
A literal NOT "staying in your lane" experience (and numerous others throughout the week) caused me to ponder this concept more metaphorically, when I was riding my bike around Big Lake in City Park.
It was later than usual so there were more people. I am a very considerate bike rider. The right hand lane is designated for bikes and shared with others, so I am very careful when I come up behind anyone who is walking. I ring my bell and say good morning. Sometimes, I apologize if I've scared them. (As you know from yesterday's post, I am NOT afraid to talk to anyone.) So many people have ear plugs in or are on their phones that they don't even hear me.
Some people take up both sides of the path. Sometimes when I'm trying to pass, others are coming toward me in the left lane so I always wait until they've passed to go around the walkers and pass on the left like you (are supposed to) do when you're driving.
I'd passed a lot of people that morning already, when I noticed a woman and her very large baby carriage ahead of me. She was walking down the center lane taking up large parts of both lanes and there was someone coming up on her left. I began ringing my bell as I got closer. She didn't move. I slowed and continued ringing intermitently. She did not move.
By the time I was almost right on top of her and her baby, I rang my bell non-stop.
She had so many choices: she could have moved; she could have apologized, she could have just let me pass and get out of my way. But no, she stopped. I had to stop, put my feet down, watch her turn around, and say: "Bikes are supposed to be in the right hand lane." (This from a woman who was taking up BOTH lanes.) As I passed I turned around and simply said: "And, I was."
I kept moving and went around the back of the museum, fuming. I made the circle and saw her coming around the bend. I'd contemplated going back and really giving her a piece of my mind, but decided to instead just let it go and move on.
Staying in your own lane is important. You are not the only person in the world. You are not entitled. And, being oblivious gets you nowhere.
I will step down from my soapbox now!
Comments