But you’re not from my family

Dear Editor:

My wife and I went for a very nice short hike at Myra Bellevue Provncial Park on May 16. It was nice to return and we were pleasantly surprised by all the various spring flowers. We were also surprised (though perhaps we should not have been) by the crowds, primarily bikers.

The hikers and dog walkers were very well behaved, moving to single-file on the trail as they approached us, as we did also.

Bikers were not all as good. Most did the same, travelling in single file. We always moved as far to the side of the trail as we could, to give them room to get by. In a few cases, I was not pleased. Some bikers would stop and chat across the trail, which meant we needed to pass between them. It would have been better to stop parallel to the trail. (I see this in walkers in the city as well.)

In two cases, bikers would not move over. In the first case, I suggested that they should and they did, saying “thank you.” In the second, a very annoying case, I had to stop and hold my hiking pole across my body, because I could not move over further and the women would not go single file. When I asked them to, one said that it was OK because they were all from the same family. Excuse me but that misses the point. They were not from my family and none of us could be guaranteed not to be contagious. When I pointed this out, I was told to relax. I would like to, but with attitudes like that, how is it possible?

Please people, enjoy your outings but remember that we are still in physical distancing mode. Co-operation among all people will make us safer and allow greater enjoyment for all. If too many people flout the common courtesies, how long do you think the parks will stay open?