Commuting - Toys and people. Rant ad nauseum

I know these things come up all the time on here, but they're funny or dangerous or something.

Bike v. Toy

I was almost home from work yesterday - two houses away from my own. My neighbor, whom I don't know, and his very young son were sitting in their driveway 15' away from the curb and to my right. There was a 12" long, black, remote control car between them and the curb. Some of you can guess where this is going.

When I was just past the critical stopping distance, and just realized what might happen, it did. The little car came straight out into the street, and went past my path. So, now it was ahead of me, but safely to the left of my line of travel. This was good. Or so I thought.

When I was just a few feet away, it reversed its direction. I would have run over it had I not stopped very quickly. Squirrels have a strange instinct to do this, as well.

I looked at the father and son, with a heavy sigh, and went on my way. No word, action, or even facial expression from either of them.

Moral
The road is not for bicycles. The road is for SUVs, inattentive pedestrians, and children's toys.

Let the fire begin.

Jonathan

Jonathan, you are right. You will get no fire from me on this...

And your observation of squirrels matches my own experimental findings. Why do such cute and seemingly peaceful little creatures have such a death wish?

You think squirrels are bad, you should come out here and ride among the wallabies and kangaroos for a while!

Chris

Originally posted by jramsey
The road is not for bicycles. The road is for SUVs, inattentive pedestrians, and children's toys.

Jonathan,

Have you never seen the movie, "Toy Story"?

I was riding with a friend one night when an opossum came running out (do opossums run?) right under he's wheel. Fortunately for all involved there were no injures reported...of course I never had a chance to talk to the poor little guy, he "ran" off too fast.

Originally posted by Pete Clark

Jonathan,

Have you never seen the movie, "Toy Story"?

I think the toys only do that when no one is around to see, or when it is, at least, possible to mask their activity.

Plus, those toys were smarter than this.

:)

Jonathan

Originally posted by Steele-Bike
I was riding with a friend one night when an opossum came running out (do opossums run?) right under he's wheel

Possums definitely do run! One night I was sitting at my computer when I heard a really, really weird noise. Stepping out on the porch I discovered it was the alarmed chattering of a possum that seemed beside him or herself with worry. The poor critter ran rapidly up and down a steep flight of stairs on the outside of a house next door, ran around the yard...

I called Animal Control, fearing the animal was rabid. I was lucky to get a live person on the line, and was told they don't respond to possum calls, because possums do not carry rabies. "Chances are, somebody disturbed the possum's nest," said the voice.

An old abandoned pickup truck had been removed from that property just hours before....

I once has a squirrel wait patentiently by the side of the road, till I was level with it. The critter then hurled himself against my wheel, and bounced off the spokes.
Fortunately the spokes were too close together for him to fit his head through, could have been messy.....

Michael, I hade the same exact thing happen to me! Except it wasn't a squirrel, it was a white tail deer, and it didn't run into me, i ran into it... dang thing sat next to the trail for 5 min, when i got a few feet away, it jumped right in front of me...thud... and yes, I went down. I don't think I hurt the deer.

Jonathan, when i was 8 and received my first remote control car, I was playing around with it on the street, until one of the older neighborhood kids tried to bunny hop it on his BMX bike, I guess he forgot to read the bunny hopping threads in the BMX forum, as he didn't quite make it.

Originally posted by MichaelW

Fortunately the spokes were too close together for him to fit his head through, could have been messy.....

What's worse than a spanner in the works? A squirrel in the spokes!

I tell you, squirrels have a death wish. Strange.

Originally posted by JonR


What's worse than a spanner in the works? A squirrel in the spokes!

I tell you, squirrels have a death wish. Strange.

This morning a squirrel darted right in the path.
Man, that varmit was psycho!!!
The problem is they are even less predictable that cagers!

Do you know why you see so many oppossum carcases on the road? "Headlights! Play dead!"

I also sent a squirrel to its maker. Kind of a sickening thud under my wheels. They change direction because they are programmed to think that you are chasing it. Ironically, that defense finishes them off if you aren't preying on them.

(One hundredth post, ladies and germs.)

Originally posted by Oscar
Do you know why you see so many oppossum carcases on the road? "Headlights! Play dead!"
[...]

(One hundredth post, ladies and germs.)
Congratulations on post no. 100! :beer:

A possum used to live next door, in some old boards and brush that had accumulated in the back yard. I'd see him dart in and out at night, and got to feeling really friendly toward him.

Then one day I happened to be looking out--broad daylight--and the possum came out wearing a big grin as though to say, "I think I'll stroll down the street and see what's going on."

I never saw him again... :(

Originally posted by Oscar
(One hundredth post, ladies and germs.)

100 posts! That transforms you from just plain ole Oscar...
to Oscar the magnificent!

Way-to-Go! I'm still huffin' and puffin' trying to catch up!!

But when I do, like you, I will have one of these ----> :beer:

I don't know about squirrels having a death wish but in my neighbour's cat is most certainly suicidal. When the cat doesn't sleep on the neighbour's car wheel it lies in the street. I was riding straight toward him only turning at the very last moment and the cat was staring straight at me, defiant, without doing as much as standing up.

Badger!

Cats are delicious! I love 'em!

Have you ever had Lab puppies in wine sauce?

There are some serious consequences associated with cooking and eating human children, but their pets seem to be fair game.

Uuuuuuurrrrrp! Pardonez-moi!

There are some serious consequences associated with cooking and eating human children, but their pets seem to be fair game.

Well you can get a large animal for free local pound and if they ever complain: they do not asked you if you intended to eat the animal. All things considered it is probably healthier than than beef or poultry as well. I am not aware of BSE cases associated with dogs or cat and apparently they are immunte to foot and mounth disease.

Don't say you eat pet in the United Kingdom though. You life would be at risk and you will have a mod screaming in front of your door.

I envision mothers scurrying their children and pets indoors.