At the risk of jinxing things, it seems as though spring has finally sprung here in Calgary.

Which means that this city’s pathways will once again be packed with people having a great time outdoors – everyone, of course, except for the Walkers.

Walkers are the people who don’t feel the need to put wheels anywhere near their feet. Simply put, their goal is to get places at normal and reasonable speeds. Sometimes they walk in big groups; other times they wear sneakers with their pantsuits. They’re not always the most athletically inclined, and in Calgary that seems to make them – us – a dying breed.

Over the years, we regular pedestrians have mysteriously lost control over Calgary’s pathways.

By deciding to go for a leisurely stroll in Eau Claire or at Fish Creek Park, we’re putting ourselves at risk of running into or tripping over any number of obstacles including (but not limited to) dog obedience classes, exercise boot camps, skateboarding angst, rabid Canadian geese, children on tricycles, children on leashes, rollerbladers, wagons, abandoned grocery carts, and, most often and most dangerously, cyclists.

I consider cyclists to be this city’s biggest threat – more than any single member of the Wildrose Alliance.

I’m not sure how long this particular grudge has existed, but it probably began when I realized that cyclists seem to have a particular aggression aimed squarely at pedestrians like me.

Bike owners are utterly ruthless as they weave their way down our pathway system; as someone who much prefers walking to biking, I can tell you that nothing elicits a tingle of fear and anger down my spine more than the sound of a biker’s bell.

Not only have cyclists seemingly taken over our pathways, but our sidewalks and roadways as well. Traffic signals are at the mercy of cyclists trying to bend the laws of the road to their will. If they’re going to cut off pedestrians and cars, can’t we at least be the ones getting to wear the cool-looking helmets?

I get it: biking’s a fantastic form of exercise, and maybe it’s fun to wear needlessly tight clothing, but I still can’t help but wonder when cyclists started making all the rules?

If we’re really supposed to be sharing the walkways, why do I feel like I’m always the one stepping out of their way?

We walkers may seem like a dying breed, but rest assured we’re still out there in force.
Can’t we all just get along?