Turkeys on the road

So here's a pic from the back part of the Three Bears loop.

It must be spring because there's some big Toms strutting around.

I thought this was particularly fitting though, and not because I'm
curious why the turkey is crossing the road (he's trying to get away
from me while I chase him with a camera). I'm curious what would happen
if a poor driver were to be flying along the road, round the bend, and
have too much speed to stop in time?

Bam, turkey everywhere. Just like the ex-deer I saw on Mountain road
this morning actually, or the flat squirrel on Moraga. Or the bird...you
get the idea. And that's just from a ride this morning.

What's the point? This morning it wasn't just critters getting nailed
out there.

Sean Smith, a guy I rode with so much this winter my wife started
calling him "the other woman" was broadsided by a truck on his way to
work. They guy drove off - a hit and run, one of the scummiest things a
driver can do. Sean lost a chunk of tooth. He has road rash on his face
along with stitches in his forehead. I'm certain he's banged up all
over. His bike is destroyed. The CAT scan indicated his head's alright

but he's got to wait for an MRI on his right knee which got mangled up.

All because people are in such a hurry, and don't pay attention while
they're driving these multi-ton blocks of metal around.

Cars kill things, people. Keep that in mind when you're driving. It
doesn't matter if you're late or in a hurry or just like going fast.
Roads go everywhere which means they intersect with any creature just
trying to live a life. Slow down. Make some room.

I'm not sure if there's even a lesson to take from this besides all the
usual advice to be careful, etc. The only thing I can think of that
could possible be positive is if each person that reads this mentions
that a friend of theirs (or a friend of a friend) was in a terrible hit
and run accident and could have been killed while laying in the street.
All the guy had to do was stop, protect him from more injury and call
for help, but he lacked the common decency to do that.

It's not just cycling either, a woman in Montclair was killed by a car
while she was at her mailbox getting her mail. The guy left the scene.

Maybe a little peer pressure in the world against hit and runs would
help things. Couldn't hurt to go on the record with your friends and try.

And of course, keep it safe out there.

-Mike