My Journey With Health And Fitness – A Call To Action

Today is my little brother’s birthday. He has had so many health scares over the past few years that really, we just get to spoil him for a few days (tomorrow is a Canadians’ baseball game which was supposed to be a surprise but he had medical appointments to move around so we had to tell him in advance). I know the next few days are going to be challenging for me so I am trying to keep the calories reasonable. For example lunch at the restaurant today was a light chicken noodle soup. The rest of the day (with the exception of the beer and wine) I will keep it light.

Saturday we helped to host a fabulous neighbourhood block party. One of the organizers arranged for the local fire department to come by (the kids loved climbing in the the fire truck) as well as representatives from our local police department (the RCMP). I spoke to one of them about my concerns as an avid walker and the fact that as a pedestrian I do not feel safe in this city. He asked for examples and I explained the past 24 hours. The night before walking home from a few drinks with my husband and brother I stood clearly in a crosswalk. Not only did the oncoming car not stop it actually blew through the stop sign. Saturday morning out on a walk I stood at the entrance of a crosswalk and a truck, a good 1/2 block away, actually sped up to get through the crosswalk before me.  Perhaps the worst was on that same walk when I was just about home I stood at the crosswalk and again a car a good 1/2 block away not only ran the crosswalk but the driver obviously saw me because he swerved around me.

The RCMP officer asked me if I made sure I was visible.  I assured him that if it is around dusk I have on my reflective running jacket and if it is still really dark I amp it up with a hi-vis running vest.  I also explained that when I approach a crosswalk I step off the curve to ensure it is clear I want to cross.  But I also told him even at controlled crosswalks where the overhead lights start flashing drivers feel speeding up an ignoring the lights is the best thing to do.

I was happy when the officer validated the fact that I do everything right including making sure that I know the driver is going to stop before I start walking through the crosswalk (I also acknowledge those that do stop with a wave).  He then asked me if I wanted to help get the message out about pedestrian safety in our city.  I said, hell yeah, what do I need to do.  Turns out the community liaison officer is working on a campaign to bring awareness to this issue.  He asked if I would come out to the events and do things like wave placards and I gave him the same answer.  Now I just have to find the time to get to the detachment to sign up to do this. This is my call to action.  I don’t get to bitch and not be willing to be part of the solution.  If I want to fix this I need to step up and do whatever I can to keep myself and all other walkers/runners in my community safe.  Hmm, apparently once an activist, always and activist