Flash me running
Tamara Loggins
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Viewpoints
While making my weekly pilgrimage to the much beloved Qdoba for that heavenly chicken burrito, I happened upon a traveler. I don't normally notice people running along the sidewalk, but this particular runner caught my eye.
His bum was flashing.
Now, that might not strike anyone else as odd, but I don't see many people with a red taillight attached to their derriere. So when I see a man running while his bottom is blinking like a traffic light, I have to wonder.
As I'm sure you're all aware, my driving skills are not exactly the equivalent of a race car driver. I swerved a bit while gawking at the traveler and nearly had a head-on collision with a light pole. I understand the purpose of having a flashing bum while running at night. No one wants to end up in a tangled heap of metal with a mechanical beast. At least, I know I don't.
I can barely drive a car. I definitely don't want to end up on the receiving end of its fury, especially if the driver can't tell the difference between lanes, lawns and sidewalks. Or if that person has spent a night staring into the business end of a bottle of booze.
So I definitely understand the need to identify ourselves while running in the middle of the night. But there's a limit. If a device can cause an epileptic seizure, maybe it should be used as party material instead of a visibility device. If, when leaving your home you look like a giant disco ball, your best bet is to save that for a Lady Gaga concert.
If you happen to look like a highlighter, chances are you can be seen from outer-space and ought to be raving around a club instead of running along the sidewalk. We all need to make ourselves visible while running, but we shouldn't be so distracting that drivers run the risk of having a collision.
His bum was flashing.
Now, that might not strike anyone else as odd, but I don't see many people with a red taillight attached to their derriere. So when I see a man running while his bottom is blinking like a traffic light, I have to wonder.
As I'm sure you're all aware, my driving skills are not exactly the equivalent of a race car driver. I swerved a bit while gawking at the traveler and nearly had a head-on collision with a light pole. I understand the purpose of having a flashing bum while running at night. No one wants to end up in a tangled heap of metal with a mechanical beast. At least, I know I don't.
I can barely drive a car. I definitely don't want to end up on the receiving end of its fury, especially if the driver can't tell the difference between lanes, lawns and sidewalks. Or if that person has spent a night staring into the business end of a bottle of booze.
So I definitely understand the need to identify ourselves while running in the middle of the night. But there's a limit. If a device can cause an epileptic seizure, maybe it should be used as party material instead of a visibility device. If, when leaving your home you look like a giant disco ball, your best bet is to save that for a Lady Gaga concert.
If you happen to look like a highlighter, chances are you can be seen from outer-space and ought to be raving around a club instead of running along the sidewalk. We all need to make ourselves visible while running, but we shouldn't be so distracting that drivers run the risk of having a collision.
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