Equation for disaster

[susiej]

What I saw on my evening drive:

Bike + teenager + street - helmet + cell phone



OK, I know I was that stupid at the same age, but I tried not to be that stupid in public! The only redeeming aspect was that he was biking on residential streets (coming from the library, in fact). Low volume and low speed.

[yellow]

Oh, in my neighborhood the residential streets are as hazardous as "main drags"...drivers aren't as alert in the neighborhood setting, it seems.

I've seen adults doing this. In fact, I saw one just this evening. He was ahead of me riding, talking on cell phone, no helmet. Eventually he stopped, right in the middle of the street. Brilliant.

I'm always amazed at the number of people I see riding here without helmets, adults and children. I asked a kid day before yesterday why he didn't wear a helmet and he said he didn't know. Then I asked him what he thought would happen if he crashed or got hit by a car. To that he shrugged his shoulders. My closing comment was that his mother may not like having to take care of him in his vegetative state for the rest of his and her lives. Of course it went over his head. Maybe some day he'll remember it.