turning a blind eye

[pumpkinpony]

That is sad. I frequently have people ask if I'm okay when I just stop to take a break.

Out on the bike path last weekend - lots of bikes, joggers, strollers... I passed an elderly guy on a beach cruiser. On my way back he had a flat tire, walking the bike, and sweating pretty good. I stopped and asked if he needed help. Turns out I couldn't do much for him as his tire was totally done for. Offered my phone so he could get a ride as he was about 6 miles from the beach where he started from... He really appreciated my stopping and said I was the only one who had asked if he needed help.

As many people as there were riding down that path I think it's disgusting that none of the 'roadies' would bother to stop and help an old guy (or anyone, for that matter).

[Librarygirl]

It makes me happy and I am also unsurprised to see that so many people on this forum think that it is very important to stop and assist people out and about, whether injured or in need of mechanical or other assistance; whether cycling, walking or other activity. I get the impression that the TE-ers here are a very thoughtful, considerate and welfare-minded bunch, which is great.

I don't know if that is more so because it is primarily women?

I would like to think that cyclists as a 'culture' would be helpful and considerate too, but in my experience too it is quite varying as to the extent of this. I certainly do notice a difference in attitude to other cyclists depending on whether the person is a kitted-out full on roadie, or a commuter/recreational cyclist. Also, age and gender does seem to play a part. Definitely the younger guys seem the least likely to give thought to the welfare of other cyclists/pedestrians around them.

I guess it is a bit hard sometimes when you are not sure of the reaction you might get, or potential offence that might be taken by an offer of assistance, but I think that we have to get past that and ask anyway. And if somebody is injured, it's a lot less likely that they are going to get offended by someone offering assistance, especially if they're alone.

Anyway, an offer of help can be a nice way to meet other people along the way and to feel connected in this sometimes lonely world. I stopped to offer assistance to a guy (around my age) when I was cycling around the lake recently. I helped him with a loan of my pump and puncture kit and we chatted while he was repairing. He was quite cute and offered to buy me a coffee to say thankyou! I said thankyou but not necessary, but you know, it could have been a nice way to make a new friend or even a potential romantic connection!

[crazycanuck]

If i'm out on the dirt & see someone stopped, I normally say "You ok yo?". I might not have the item they require but at least I offered. Same at XC events-i'm not in to win (rather just trying to beat my previous times & conquer stuff) so am happy to assist in some way.

A while back Ian was going to bunnings for something & as he turned from our street he noticed a cyclist walking for some reason. The gent had a flat along the bike path a few hundred meters away so Ian invited him back to our house & offered our floor pump as the gent fixed his tire. Nice guy & bike!

We have a floor pump in our ute & if i see a roadie stopped fixing thier bike, i'll stop & offer it.

[bmccasland]

I've always offered help to riders I've seen stopped along the levee path, unless they're talking on their cell phones, then I figure they don't need my help. And I've had John Q Public offer me help on a MS training ride when I had mechanical trouble. The gentleman was driving a van, stopped and offered a ride to town or the next rest-stop, and I was leary about getting in the van, but one of our M/C escorts came up and said he's follow us, where-ever went, "to Kansas if necessary." So I felt better, and took up the ride to the next rest-stop where there was mechanical assistance for my troubled bike. I'm not so sure I'd get in the stranger's van, but knowing the M/C rider was back there made me feel safe. The Good Sam was being just that. There are kind strangers, just too bad the creeps have ruined our trust of most strangers.

[Grog]

I will help anyone (unless my gut tells me it's a creep who is setting up a trap - which hasn't happened so far), even ungrateful roadies that went out for a ride with NOTHING to fix a flat tire, on a road without public transit. My husband, if I recall correctly, thought the guy was not worthy of being helped, and mildly annoyed at how long it took for the guy to fix his flat tire (with my kit and pump), but the views from the Shoreline Highway (thanks MaillotPois for the recommended route!), made it okay for me to stop for a while.

[jessmarimba]

I always stop and ask if people are ok. And in my experience on the trails, I haven't ever even stopped to take a picture without someone making sure I'm ok.

I wonder if there's more of a sense of responsibility to ask on the trails, since it could be hours before someone else comes across the same stranded cyclist? I know I'd be more likely to ask a stranded motorist if they needed help (from the safety of my car) if they were in the middle of nowhere vs. the side of the interstate.

[Bike Chick]

Your thread has made me so aware of offering help that I stopped to ask someone in a car with a flat tire if they needed help on my commute this morning. Don't know what I could have done since all I had was a CO2 cartridge and a patch kit but I offered anyway

[badger]

I'm so happy that caring for the fellow man is alive and well here.

And I'm shocked that I didn't think of this horrible story just until now:

I work for the fire department, and almost 2 years ago, one of our female firefighters was vacationing in India by motorcycle. She was in Goa, and was hit by a bus. She was hurt very badly, but NOBODY helped her. They essentially left her for dead by the side of the road.

It was made worse by the fact she was dark complected and female.

Who knows how long she was on the road, but finally someone stopped to help her - a British woman on vacation. She managed to flag a taxi and took the firefighter to 3, yes, THREE different hospitals before one would accept her. The firefighter apparently wasn't carrying any cash so they were reluctant to admit her.

Long and short, the firefighter sustained catastrophic head injury and passed away two days later. The woman who helped her was flown to Vancouver and was given a special commendation during the firefighter's funeral.

[shootingstar]

It was made worse by the fact she was dark complected and female.

Who knows how long she was on the road, but finally someone stopped to help her - a British woman on vacation. She managed to flag a taxi and took the firefighter to 3, yes, THREE different hospitals before one would accept her. The firefighter apparently wasn't carrying any cash so they were reluctant to admit her.

Long and short, the firefighter sustained catastrophic head injury and passed away two days later. The woman who helped her was flown to Vancouver and was given a special commendation during the firefighter's funeral.

You mean she was dark complexioned and female, which made it worse?

Anyway, this is horrific and sad.

[badger]

You mean she was dark complexioned and female, which made it worse?

Anyway, this is horrific and sad.

well, she was in India where women generally aren't treated very well. If she was blonde, or more visibily a "tourist", she may have stood a better chance of being helped.

[Owlie]

You mean she was dark complexioned and female, which made it worse?

Anyway, this is horrific and sad.

Someone with a half-Goan background here...
Yes. Indians in general are very--shall we say--color-conscious. It's an indicator of, among other things, social class. And even though Goa is culturally somewhat different from much of the rest of India, that still holds. And yes, this goes for medical treatment. If you don't obviously have money--ie, being relatively light-skinned or looking like a tourist, you're going to have trouble getting medical care.

I know that I've posted a picture of myself here. I'd probably have difficulty getting medical treatment there unless they saw my passport.
This fact probably would have saddened my Goan grandmother (who was a doctor), but this has probably become more prevalent as the demographics of the state have changed.

/tangent