I’ll give you warning in advance, this will not be my most positive or uplifting posting. It is however, one that needs to come out.

I’ve been running, walking on roadways for some 38+ years now. There are some areas that I use a sidewalk, and on occasions, I’m at my local Metropark. The vast majority of my time is spent on roadways. There’s two reasons here, one is I enjoy a wider space with less chances to face plant. Anyone that’s spent time dodging uneven sidewalks or articles left out by homeowners can tell you, sidewalks kind of suck. The other reason is in my city (cough, cough) of Oregon, Ohio, we have one of the most interesting sidewalk systems in NW Ohio. Most of them lead to absolutely nowhere! You may have them for a stretch and then they just stop. One of the roads from my subdivision (Pickle Rd.) Is a prime example of WTF?! A sidewalk here, then nothing, then another one down the road, then nothing. This is my link to all things around me and I don’t mind telling you, I’ve had my share of altercations on this said road. One was while walking with my wife and sisters, we were attempting to get from our subdivsion to the next closest sidewalk. We were stopped by a local police officer that asked us to get onto the sidewalks, and that it was only for our own safety that he was telling us this. I believe my answer was along the lines of, “do you see a sidewalk there?” He looked annoyed and rolled on his way. Today, while finishing up my afternoon walk before work, I encountered two different cars on Pickle Rd. that both decided to make their point. One, drove down onto the berm of the road, over the white line (where I walk) and did her best to intimidate me for “being on her road”. Her arms were flapping and jaws were working too. Next up, guy sat and waited as we were approaching one another. Once I got close, he floored it, pulled all the way into the other lane, and flipped me the bird. I could go on and on of the countless people that have screamed at me, swerved in my direction, threw things, spit, blew diesel smoke etc. It brings me to this question. Whose Road Is it?

I’m quite certain that my taxes, which are pretty enormous cover me using all areas of my city. I’m a respectful runner, walker, biker and make sure to stay out of the middle of the road. I stay on the outside of the berm and if I see a large vehicle, such as a bus, walk even further into front yards to give clearance. By the way, bus drivers are the best and always wave! Tons of people in my community know who I am because I’m always out doing something. They may not know my name, but so many times we’ll be at a store and someone will say, “hey, you’re that running guy”. Always gives me a smile.

Why the fuss for all the others? What is it about me, or anyone that’s walking, running or biking on the roadway that makes people want to lose their minds and act like asshats? I was told by a co-worker before that I need to stay off of “her” road and go to the park if I want to run. Her road? Again, Whose Road Is it?

I’m a slightly confrontational individual, when provoked. I definitely take issue with people trying to harm me or cuss me out. (I’m working on it…wink, wink) I really just want to get outside, enjoy the sunshine and blue skies and be left to my thoughts. I ask nothing of others, except to respect my space. I’m a part of this community and the human race as a whole, I deserve that. I’m finding it tougher each day to get around without some kind of unwanted unpleasantries. It’s gotten so out of hand that I was even asked to stay out of a local car dealerships lot. I’ve been going through for over a year now to go to the local gym. Again, I’m respectful, I stay out of the way of everyone. I just liked to go through and gaze at all the vehicles, and on occasions, snap a picture of one and send it to friends or family. Apparently that’s too much. My walking through has disturbed the force in some fashion and I’m to stay off their lot…for my own safety.

I’m befuddled. Is it me? Do I just look like a problem so people want to take their best shot, or attempt to intimidate? You know the funniest part of this blog entry. The run down part of the city that I grew up in, I have no issues. I walk through the East Side and have a fraction of the problems that I’ve had right here in my own backyard. What does that say?

Here’s how this is going to go. I’ll make it my mission to lobby the “new” city council out here once they’re in place and work towards making this a more friendly community for people that want to move. Connect this ridiculous matrix of sidewalks, work on getting an actual bike/walking path on Pickle Rd. We need to figure this out and find out what this, so called city wants to be. Are we going to be a community of angry rage drivers that attempt to harm people who are walking in their space or are we going to make it a place that everyone can have their space and feel good about it? The answer to the question, Whose Road Is It…it belongs to all of us, and the sooner everyone has that understanding, and allows others to share it with them, the better we’ll all be in the long run. As for the local dealership, I’ll take the time to pen a letter to someone in authority there and ask why I bother them so much. I’ve been judged enough in my lifetime to know when someone is looking at me like I’m garbage. I’ll take the high road and ask the hard questions, in a respectful manner. I won’t lie, I walked straight across the same lot as I always have today. LOL! No one was harmed in that action either.

Feel free to comment on this topic, I’d love to hear others stories or opinions. Until then…

I’ll see you on the road! (OUR ROAD)

~Zombie~