Originally Posted by
Bionicycle
True story; about a week after my hip replacement I had to go to the Lab for some blood work. It was the first time I had really been out in public on my walker, and I was under no touch down weight rules for my left leg; so I was taking it slow and careful. I was about half way to where I needed to be, when all at once I hear "Get out of the way" and a little ole gray headed woman literally pushing her walker like a construction worker would push a wheel-barrel in a race, damned near knocked me over as she blew past. So, I don't know if "On your left" works very well, But, "Get out of the way" is not a good thing to say. I would have told that old woman too, if I could ever have caught up to her.
The mood I was in, and the drugs I was on, she is lucky I didn't throw my water bottle at her.
Lucky for the old woman, my wife was parking the car at the time, and missed the whole event.
Yeah, ya gotta watch out for those self-righteous old ladies. I was on my way to work a couple of weeks ago, still wearing my neck brace and sitting in one of the seats on the crowded commuter light rail (we call it a "Skytrain" here in Vancouver) reserved for the handicapped (which I figured the neck brace would qualify me for) when this obnoxious old woman says to me, "senior lady with a walker coming, you'll have to move!" and this old woman shuffles aboard with a walker. Fortunately, another gentleman got up, so I took his place and the shriveled old woman with the walker took the handicapped seat. But I was quite offended at how rude this first old woman was!
I find that what often works with pushy people, especially if you are 6'1" and 175 lbs, is to just "accidentally" body-check them into the boards. You have to quickly apologize profusely for your clumsiness, but it's worth it to teach them a lesson as they climb up out of the cheap seats! I use this with guys that try to get onto the crowded Skytrain before I've had a chance to get off, or for guys who are just plain inconsiderate and block your path.
L.