Dillingham Haggblom

Commute—08/23/10 Way home

As I pedaled northbound on the Lake Road, at around 6:15 pm, two young boys, about ages 6 and 10, pedaled southbound, in the middle of the road at mile 2.  Hill, curve, limited visibility, with their loose dog, also careening around the entire road.  The dog made a beeline for me, and I had time to say, “Is this your dog?” before they were past and the older of the two boys called his dog’s name.  No helmets, no high visibility clothes.  They proceeded southbound just as 3 vehicles did.  I didn’t hear sounds of collisions.  Had a northbound vehicle been there at this time, the likelihood of a collision would have been high.  I’ve thought about “what to do” about this, as it is about the tenth time I’ve encountered this situation.  My purely scientist mind chalks it up to natural selection—unsuccessful individuals don’t pass their genes onto the next generation, therefore the species as a whole is successful.  So, let nature take it’s course, and there’s a good chance the boys won’t survive to reproduce.  My non-scientist mind asks why the children lack parents who teach them safe bicycling and dog walking skills.  Do the parents believe that age 6 and 10 year old boys know the rules of the road, and that nothing will happen to them?  Do the parents know what the rules of the road are?  Do the children have parents?  So, I decided to report the situation to the Department of Public Safety, so at least there was a documented record of a recurring situation that is dangerous, and to Office of Children Services.  Child neglect comes in all packages, and I consider this situation child neglect.  What will they “do?” I can’t speak for them, but at least I’ve started a paper trail that could possibly prevent trauma that will linger forever, unless natural selection has other plans.