Was I too Harsh?

Ok so I was walking up the main street of Stirling today with my wife when a couple of kids came screaming up behind me on BMX bikes. I offered a suggestion that if they were going to share the footpath with pedestrians they should consider issuing a verbal warning when coming up behind people. The older kid mumbled something aboutit not beinr required by law and as he rode off dropped a comment to his mate about "the old fart".

The kids got held up at a pedestrian crossing and I caught up with them and decided to put a few things straight with the mouthy older kid. I pointed out that I was a cyclist and that his arrogant rude behaviour created a problem for me and other reponsible cyclists.  I also asked him why he bothered wearing a helmet with the strap unfastened and suggested that doing so made him look like an idiot. I then finished by taking him to task on his comment about me being an old fart......I told him that I even though I turned 54 last Sunday I'd be happy to go home and get my Bianci and race him up the main street of Stirling with the winner taking the loser's bike. It was at this stage that the kid really started to look worried.

So was I too harsh and just being a cranky old fart???

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Permalink Reply by durian rider on January 25, 2012 at 9:12

Love that you challenged him for a race lol!

Good work. Gave him something positive to remember.

Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on January 25, 2012 at 12:28

Yeah the challenge will haunt the kid for years and he'll eventually end up becoming a gun pro rider for GreenEdge.

Permalink Reply by LINAR on January 25, 2012 at 14:58

Or a vandal!

Permalink Reply by Dstone on January 25, 2012 at 11:32

i think it is important that we regulate ourselves. This week there has been a spectacular show of law breaking at the train crossings on winston av. I dished out an OI to one nugget because  I wanted to be seen to do something as there were heaps of cars watching these tools creating the worst impression.- wrong side of the road, around the train post while it was down. Down further near the bakery the s bend one guy went up the wrong side of the road about a meter in with traffic coming towards him. not un common for this road.

Permalink Reply by Michael Murray on January 25, 2012 at 14:43

 Down further near the bakery the s bend one guy went up the wrong side of the road about a meter in with traffic coming towards him.

I've seen a couple of people recently racing up to a junction on their bikes and when they see traffic instead of stopping they do  a sharp right and go along the side of the road the wrong way until there is a small gap they can slip through with a sharp left. Stupid and dangerous.

Permalink Reply by LINAR on January 25, 2012 at 14:58

No you weren't being too harsh.  You were brilliant.  Although I think that the kid probably went off and kicked a dog after you had finished with him.

Permalink Reply by Steven Ellison on January 25, 2012 at 15:03

Definately a cranky old fart! Well done ;-)

Permalink Reply by Doddsy on January 25, 2012 at 15:12

I wouldn't say too harsh, but i'd say you failed to get the response you were after.

Sarcasm always works well "Thanks for going slow, leaving space and saying excuse me."

Got a mate who is fantastic with his tone, He lives near the beach and hates the carparking rev heads. His supportive cheers of "Faster, faster, Go faster!!" seems to do a good job of reminding people they are now at the beach and its time to relax.

For some reason i've tried and failed at doing the same thing.  Maybe its my mono tone voice.

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