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Letter: Wrong side of road and story of the dog bite
Op-Ed · September 03, 2015
Recently, I began my day as I often do by taking a walk about my community.
I have been awarding myself this pleasure for over 30 years and have, while perambulating and pondering, found answers to all manner of vexatious questions. I walk on the correct — facing traffic — side of the street and on the streets because they are smoother than sidewalks.
The day in question quickly turned unpleasant when a dog bit me. Was this a some feral beast lunging out of the brush to rip a meal from my leg? No, it was a yippy, little, “he’s never bit anyone” house dog tethered to its master via one of those windup contraptions.
The master and his little monster were walking toward me which meant they were on the wrong side of the street.
Alas, the tether was too long and the thing hacked at me and caused pain. My instant reaction was to loudly inform all in the vicinity; “That son of b--- bit me!”
The master apologized profusely, examined my leg and satisfied himself that I had been bit. Later, I could find no contusion and so ends this part of my story — no harm, no foul.
The above incident gave rise to one vexing question to which I, as yet, have found no answer.
I have asked young people which side of the street they are supposed to walk on and many express ignorance of any such pedestrian “Rule of the Road.” Is it possible that they cannot conceive of transiting a street sans a vehicle? Perhaps such a basic bit of safety education thoroughly impressed on me lo so many years ago, has been crowded out of the modern curricula by the mandatory weekly, “teach teachers how to teach” bull session? Or, could it be that a federal mandated harangue having to do with eating veggies has been deemed more important than pedestrian safety?
There remains the vexing question; “Why do so many dog people walk on the wrong side of the street?”
Willard Salemink,
West Branch
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