To the Biker on the Canal Path at 5:30pm Today

I understand your need to bike home after a long shift worked at UPS (I assume you work at UPS based on your lovely tan short-sleeve button down shirt and chocolate brown too-tight shorts).  I too have biked to work in the past and get how you want to get home in a hurry.  I ask, however, that in the future, you not scare the crap out of myself and my dogs. 

I may appear to have my shit together as I'm walking down our canal path.  I've got my awesome jogging stroller with my chatty baby in front of me and my two stunning Border Collies walking along on my right side.  We keep a brisk pace and I'm sure I seem calm and collected but it's a delicate balance, you must know.  So, when you come up behind us, 30 mph, with notsomuch as a "on your right", are you surprised that I cursed under my breath after I recovered from our encounter?

I take up two thirds of our little path...  Our multi-use path that is supposed to be for everything from riding horses to jogging, by the way, it's not a bike path exclusively in case you were wondering.  Most bikers alert me that they're coming up from behind with a "on your left" or "coming up behind you" or even "excuse me" all of which help me scoot my pups over just a bit to give a little more room to the passerby and stop them from freaking out over the passing bicycle.  You may not know this, but most dogs have an issue with bikes whizzing by.  Mine.are.petrified.  Not joking, Abbey is afraid of everything with wheels (except our stroller, thank goodness).

So, when you come up behind me, on my right (despite there being a third of the path open on my left), INCHES away from hitting my dog without any warning...  wanna know what happens???  One dog pulls right, the other dog pulls left, IN FRONT of the stroller.  The stroller tips.  I stumble to catch it.  I drop a leash.  And a dog is gone.  Lovely.  Don't YOU worry you're pretty little brown shorts though, I'm just fine.  My dogs are amazing and wait for me to recover and catch up to them while you speed off not paying any attention to the drama you have just caused.  My baby is a little upset at the raucous but it's nothing a funny face from mommy can't fix.  And we make our way home, all in one piece.

Don't worry about us, we're FINE!  Just watch out because I ALWAYS pick up after my dogs and I'm not afraid to use it as a weapon (in self defense, of course).

Hugs and Kisses (Asshole!!!),

Amanda and Family