Don't Shoot Shotgun

Walking isn't always easy, but it shouldn't be this hard either!

Can anybody answer the question as to what compels people in vehicles to scare and terrorize pedestrians? While I enjoy walking and have lots of good things to say about that particular activity and the places in Prince George to enjoy a great walk there are those times and people that make me shake my head.

I have been yelled at by passengers and drivers, what they're saying is a mystery to me as I can usually only hear one maybe two syllables as they zip by. I have had people try to smoke me out with the exhaust that spews from vehicles that are unnecessarily being revved to create the excessive exhaust.

I have had drivers purposely serve into my path and others try to time a puddle to splash me. I have had things thrown at me including quite recently an almost full fountain drink that exploded and showered me with pop when it hit me in the back.

By far the scariest incident happened today when a passenger rolled down their window, pointed a gun at me and fired a single shot. I'm sure it was nothing more than a cap gun as I wasn't hit with anything, but that doesn't matter.

Don't ask me to identify the vehicle or anybody in it ... I wasn't wearing my glasses because of the rain. It did give me a jolt and it scared Sophie who took about 15 minutes to calm down and stop looking around in fear. This is careless, reckless and as far as I can tell serves only to scare and terrorize the pedestrian.

I am stubborn enough that this will not deter me from continuing my walks, but seriously why do people feel the need to infringe on pedestrians in any of these manners? It takes away from all of the considerate drivers out there. For example a big thank you to the driver that saw me standing at the corner with Sophie sitting and waiting our turn to cross. This particular driver did not need to, but stopped at the crosswalk for us.

I originally posted this on my Facebook page and received a number of comments back including one from a friend who shared similar encounters and had often wondered if those were a form of ridicule. There is no explanation and certainly no excuse for these actions. I am the first to acknowledge that on some level the people doing these things find them funny, but all I can hope is that the old cliche of "what goes around, comes around" will eventually ring true.