A Letter To The Editor

For those of you who know me well, you might know that I like to speak my mind occasionally - ok, maybe more than occasionally. What better way than getting my opinion in the local newspaper?

I wrote a Letter to the Editor a few weeks ago and thought I would share it. A little background first though. A little over a month ago, I was out for my run after work. Keep in mind, the sun had already set and the street lights had come on - it was dark. As I came to an intersection with a marked cross walk a car rolled through the stop sign - it was close enough that I slammed my hand on the back of his trunk to let him know I was not very happy that he didn't stop. If we would have met a second earlier I would have been on his hood...

Well, the young man then rolled his window down and started yelling at me for hitting his car. I didn't hesitate to throw my thoughts back at him. Maybe next time he will think a little when he's driving his car...but I doubt it.

Here's my letter:

Every year, after we set our clocks back, it seems the idea of venturing out into the dark for my evening run is borderline insanity and more dangerous to my health than staying home on the couch and watching TV. I have been running on the streets of Kearney for over a decade now, and it seems some drivers need a friendly reminder that even though the street lights have come on, there are still many people who get outside to take a walk or go for a run. When I run in the evening I try to wear at least a light colored reflective top to be seen. Lately, it seems my efforts to allow motorists to see me are falling on blind eyes.

I have noticed drivers on cell phones or text messaging who likely never noticed I was running around their vehicle at an intersection. Usually I have to run around the back of a vehicle after the driver speeds to the stop sign and finally come to a stop with their rear tires blocking the crosswalk. Had I been a few steps quicker or they arrived a few moments later I would surely become a very unwelcome hood ornament or perhaps even worse.

Simply stopping before the cross walk, looking both directions, and proceeding is an easy practice to follow and would improve the safety of our streets for both pedestrians and drivers. At least a few of us could breathe easier while we exercise.

It's not much, but at least it's something for people to think about. It was in the paper a few weeks ago, and since that time I haven't had any trouble when I have been running - but it's only a matter of time until another bad driver ignores a simple traffic law and receives my fist pounding on their car. It wasn't my first and it won't be my last.

Until again

-=Nolan=-