A Note to the Cyclist Who Shouted at Me on the Street

home insemination Kit

Hey there, cyclist.

When you zoomed by and yelled “You’ve got to be kidding me!” I didn’t stop to consider if I was in the bike lane or if I should have kept moving; I simply thought you were rude. And honestly, I still think that. My view on bike lanes hasn’t changed, but I’d like to share a little story with you.

A Personal Experience

Years ago, when my son was just a baby, I loaded him into his car seat and headed to the grocery store. It was a beautiful day, and the parking lot was spacious, making it easy to find a spot. As I was backing in, I heard a loud honk but didn’t see anyone around. I assumed it was for someone else and continued parking.

As I walked into the store with my son in the cart, a woman approached me, visibly upset. “You weren’t even paying attention!” she snapped. “That’s really dangerous! You need to look before you pull in!” I was taken aback and didn’t know how to respond.

As I continued shopping, her words lingered in my mind. I was annoyed at being yelled at by a stranger, but I also began to wonder where her car had been when she honked. I didn’t even realize there was a problem.

Later, I bumped into her again, and this time I decided to speak up. “Hey, you’re right. I didn’t see you. Where was your car when you honked?” Her demeanor shifted, and she explained where she had been parked. Suddenly, we were having a constructive conversation instead of a confrontation. By the end of it, we both walked away feeling better, and I gained some valuable insight to improve my driving.

Let’s Communicate Better

So, listen up, cyclist: I’m not a jerk. I’m actually a nice person who tries to be considerate, especially as a parent. Yelling at me doesn’t help anyone! With a little creativity, you could have communicated your point in a more positive way.

Here are some alternatives to your outburst that would’ve taken the same effort:

• What you yelled: “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
• Syllables: Five
• Suggested replacements:
• “Bike coming through!”
• “Watch out, bike lane!”
• “Careful there, friend!”
• “Whoa there, speedy!”

See? It’s easy to be kind!

Resources for Safe Practices

If you want to learn more about safe practices, feel free to check out some great resources like the CDC for pregnancy or the fertility supplements that can help on your journey. And if you’re looking for more insights, head over to our page for contacting us.

In short, let’s strive for kindness and understanding instead of insults.