We're all in our own little worlds. Bridging the gap to communicate with someone in their world can sometimes be a challenge. It helps if you're more or less on the same plane, experiencing the same flow.... but not always.
For example: Cyclists! That ever strange gaggle of interpreters and complicated communicators. Cyclists seem to scan other cyclists for everything from rider positioning, geometry, kit, components, frame brand, speed, etc. in order to decide whether or not that other rider gets a quick wave or nod of the head or ignored!
Runners aren't a hell of a lot better with each other. The chances of getting a quick wave of acknowledgement decrease over the terrain on which one is running - I'm gonna go with 60% for trails and then decreasing through paths, roads, and sidewalks...
Hikers might be the best at interacting with each other. Kudos! Possibly 8 or 9 out of 10 will initiate or respond for quick interaction. Yet walkers, strangely, have perhaps the lowest score of all: maybe it's all too close for comfort around town at close range and Is that person waving at me a crazy psychopath?
Oh, yeah. Drivers. Sorry. You're last. Not even a turn signal anymore. When was the last time anyone waved at a stranger in a car passing in the other direction. Maybe on a country road somewhere - which brings up the point, of course these percentages are going to change for different regions around the state, country, world... but I'm experiencing this here now and it's probably spreading your way soon if it hasn't already arrived.
Now, back to bridging that gap. If we're going with the highly researched (LOL) 60% best hope for wave back communication between people sharing the same trail running experience, what kind of expectation do we have for cross activity interaction? A cyclist to a runner? Unprecedented! Dismal.
But why? Let's change all that. Let's step outside our little worlds and be a part of the big one! And then, ironically, the world will be a smaller place...
Why, just today, I waved at a driver for intentionally not right hooking me! Amazing.
A wave, a peace sign, a wink... It's all good...
And pretty soon everyone all over the place will be waving and smiling and chatting and getting to know each other and all like, You go ahead... No, you go ahead... No, really, you go ahead, I'm in no rush...
It will be hilariously safe and we'll all get to where we're going 5 minutes late and no one will care because we'll all be on the same flowing plane...
2 comments:
The area I walk has lots of interactions and acknowledgement between walkers. That being said, my neighborhood is in the foothills of a relatively small city (it's not top-50 population in LA County) so it's as close to "hiking" as you can come on a city sidewalk, I suppose. (I believe I've sent you photos of the coyotes and deer with whom I share the streets on most walks.)
As far as drivers, it's a lost cause. 20 years ago I owned a Jeep, and I rarely put the top up, so I would - at least once a day - get a wave from a fellow topless Jeep driver, but that's about it.
Thanks, JAM. I would totally wave at a topless Jeep driver, too! As for coyotes, I saw one on my run this morning, but that was before 4am...
Post a Comment