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At 11:50 AM 6/24/01 -0400, Josh wrote:
>Replies to this message are sent to The Chevelle Mailing List
>------------------------------------------------------------
>
>OK OK. So you don't like my driving style, get over it. As for people
>swerving to miss, I am sorry but when someone is past the
<snip>
>vehicle (yes I am aware that that CAN be fixed YOU cannot). So to sum it
>all up, if you are on my side of the road, and you are looking directly at
>me, prepare for a sudden impact because I am not getting out of my way,
>I'll slow down, I'll get over some, but I am not going to risk damage to
>me or my vehicle just to get out of your way, YOU will have to do that.
>Josh
<a ton of earlier posts snipped>
I've been following this thread several days now, sometimes
chuckling, and sometimes not. I thought this tiny little story
might fit in.
I teach at a small (6000 students) West Texas university, and
drive (only one mile from home) my 1967 C10 pickup to work
each day. My parking lot is on a four lane with median street,
and the speed limit is 30 mph. Student parking is directly across
that street, and getting down that street in a vehicle can be nearly
impossible, as the students count on vehicle drivers to stop while
they saunter leisurely from their parking lot, ignoring crosswalks,
through our parking lot and into the building. I have legs that are
pretty much worthless, and use a walker. It takes me at least 10
minutes to get from the '67 to the classroom, so I don't have a lot
of time to tarry.
Last January, a week or two after the spring semester began, I
was on my way to work, and saw a small group of students look
at my approach, laugh, and step off the curb directly into my path.
I wouldn't hurt a flea, and have nearly wrecked a couple of times
dodging a squirrel which was crossing my path. This time, though,
something popped into my mind.
Right foot eases up on throttle (at about 25 mph) and left foot lightly
resting on brake pedal. Turn head to left, slightly away from the
group of students, such that I could still see them in my peripheral
vision, and kept on a steady path with speed slowly decreasing.
When I approached to within 75 feet or so, they suddenly scattered
like a covey of quail, and I eased on by at about 12-15 mph.
As I began my class, a male student in the center of the room called
out to me, and the following dialog (to the best of my memory) took
place.
He: "Mr. Richardson, do you realize you nearly ran over me this morning?"
I: "No. In the parking lot? I don't think I was driving on the sidewalk."
He: "Oh, no. In the street, right in front of this building."
I: "Hmmm. Were you part of that group that stepped out right in front of me?"
He: (Laughing) "Yes, and you didn't even slow down. I don't think you
were even watching where you were going."
I: "How do you guys get by with that? What keeps you from getting killed?"
He: (With huge grin) "Oh, I just keep walking straight ahead and act like
I don't even see the car coming. The driver will always slow down, or stop."
I: "That's funny."
He: "Why?"
I: "Because that's exactly the way I drive!"
Sixty five students laughed so loudly they shook the whole building.
He laughed the loudest. He told me after class he was going to use the
crosswalks ( where vehicles do stop) in the future.
JimBub
Still Jim, but becoming more Bubba.
Time changes everything.
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