- ALWAYS smile and wave at the drivers who aren't too self-involved to stop and let you pass
If it wasn't for my body's tendency to be squishy and fragile, I would use belligerence and a fierce stare enforce the "please slow down for bikers and skaters" rule. Since I'm afraid about damage to my person, I handle my fierce staring safely on the side of the road while waiting for a driver who isn't too hellbent on getting where they're going to realize that 15 seconds spent on not committing manslaughter isn't going to make their lives any worse in the whole scheme of things. Anecdotally, the people who refuse to stop drive nicer cars and keep their windows up to ensure that the harsh elements don't invade their air-conditioned bliss.I figure that every time I have a nasty glare-down with one of these people I toss a little ill-will into the world (unless they're just that oblivious). So it is important to smile, wave, bow, or otherwise express my gratitude for the people who do take the time to realize there are other people around. They probably don't need my appreciation as much, but hamming it up never hurt anyone.
By the way, this isn't the freeway I'm talking about. This is a parkway, paths around the lake and other places where you'd hope drivers were more aware of their surroundings than their destinations. I have a silly, passive-aggressive fantasy about placing one of those accident memorials on the street by a recreational path. I'd do it up, with flowers and a big, fat cross. I would post a sign with a broken heart and the plea, "Please Slow Down". Manipulative? Yes, but I have to believe that making people think would do more good than harm - even if it just gets them wondering what a manslaughter charge would do to their insurance.
- Insoles make a world of difference
I just added arch supports to my skates and everything changed. I'm pretty sure I added about 3mph to my average and I think about eating pavement much less now. I thought I needed new wheels, but now I can get by for quite a while. - It's called skating
I don't own any Rollerblades. Well I do, but they predate Hammertime. I own inline skates manufactured by a company other than Rollerblade, which means I am Inline Skating. When I say, "I'm going out skating", people correct me or ask, "what kind of skating?" - which is probably a backhanded way of correcting me because I'm pretty sure the Greenway isn't ice skate-friendly. I could say I'm going Inline Skating, but that's just lurpy, isn't it?