Cowardly Decision?
Yesterday evening was just perfect for an hour or so's pootle around the lanes once I'd let my supper go down. It was cool but not cold, the sky was interesting without threatening rain, and there was a breeze without it really being significant enough to be called a headwind.
I took my hi-viz yellow wind/waterproof which makes me very visible from a long way away and when I wear it open and flapping behind me it prompts car drivers to give me more room than they would to a sleeker cyclist profile! I took my lights too, as it was tending towards the gloaming, and way back when, in the days when I used to do a near-miss report, dusk always seemed to be the worst time for SMIDSYs*.
So I'm drifing along the lanes enjoying the late sunshine, fragrant air and very, very quiet transmission when I see something worrisome up ahead. Even when on the bike, I keep a close eye out for "mini-beasts" on the verges and in the bushes in case they decide to make a dash for it. I've saved many creatures' lives mainly by spotting them quite a way ahead and slowing down for them rather than by ill-advised braking or swerving. I particularly would not like to run something over whilst on the bike.
It was quickly quite evident that there was a small casualty ahead who was still moving. I groaned to myself - I hate having to decide what to do in these situations and I have seen some nasty things. I prefer roadkill when they're very, very dead.
To remove nasty descriptions which I don't really want to recall, whatever action I took would not have led to a pleasant end. I chose to hope that the next car that came along finished the job quickly, quite a likely thing to happen given the poor beast's position on the road.
It was either that or allow the creature to expire, probably very slowly, in the verge. I hope I made the right decision. Instinctively, the rabbit wanted to get off the road. I wonder if I should have moved it. Quick or slow?
I continued on my ride feeling sad about it, but not feeling the need to go back and see what had happened. This is one of my usual loops though, so I will probably return soon, possibly even tonight.
Does anyone else out there regularly encounter creatures that are highly unlikely to survive their injuries? What do you do?
* - Sorry Mate I Didn't See You
I took my hi-viz yellow wind/waterproof which makes me very visible from a long way away and when I wear it open and flapping behind me it prompts car drivers to give me more room than they would to a sleeker cyclist profile! I took my lights too, as it was tending towards the gloaming, and way back when, in the days when I used to do a near-miss report, dusk always seemed to be the worst time for SMIDSYs*.
So I'm drifing along the lanes enjoying the late sunshine, fragrant air and very, very quiet transmission when I see something worrisome up ahead. Even when on the bike, I keep a close eye out for "mini-beasts" on the verges and in the bushes in case they decide to make a dash for it. I've saved many creatures' lives mainly by spotting them quite a way ahead and slowing down for them rather than by ill-advised braking or swerving. I particularly would not like to run something over whilst on the bike.
It was quickly quite evident that there was a small casualty ahead who was still moving. I groaned to myself - I hate having to decide what to do in these situations and I have seen some nasty things. I prefer roadkill when they're very, very dead.
To remove nasty descriptions which I don't really want to recall, whatever action I took would not have led to a pleasant end. I chose to hope that the next car that came along finished the job quickly, quite a likely thing to happen given the poor beast's position on the road.
It was either that or allow the creature to expire, probably very slowly, in the verge. I hope I made the right decision. Instinctively, the rabbit wanted to get off the road. I wonder if I should have moved it. Quick or slow?
I continued on my ride feeling sad about it, but not feeling the need to go back and see what had happened. This is one of my usual loops though, so I will probably return soon, possibly even tonight.
Does anyone else out there regularly encounter creatures that are highly unlikely to survive their injuries? What do you do?
* - Sorry Mate I Didn't See You
posted by Catherine at 10:44
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