As the commerce/tourism interests get excited about the need to get the place lit up like a Christmas tree over the silly season, I hope that fair warning will be given about the hazards to pedestrians here.
Firstly, absolutely zilch attention, as far as I can see, is being paid to the problem of careless use of cycles and electric bikes here on the footpaths and other tracks – such as the once gentle walk along the Belongil drain. Until it was decided by some that these paths must be shared with those who bore recklessly along, among pedestrians, with complete disregard for others.
Few riders seem to acknowledge that they are meant to share with walkers. Electric bikes, as has been discussed before, seem to evade regulations almost entirely. An iota of common sense would suggest that one doesn’t ride flat strap along a footpath (Jonson Street for example) scattering luckless pedestrians like pigeons. But this occurs daily. ‘Is a bell on a bicycle necessary?’ There is rarely any sound warning given of these cyclists’ approach, I find.
Although it is an offence to use a mobile phone whilst driving, I believe, it is commonplace to see some cyclist or e-biker riding insouciantly along the main roads here (including the now venerated bypass) whilst absorbed in their mobile phone.
Do I think this situation is likely to improve? I am not optimistic!
Here’s another hazard of the main street I have personally experienced: back in the start of winter, I noticed that the pedestrian crossing near the Byron Post Office had been remodelled – for what reason, I know not. Anyhow, it had been painted red and white. I have never seen a red and white ‘zebra crossing’ before. Perhaps it’s a ‘first’ for this wonderful town?
What I was unaware of was the small bump/quasi-ledge that now lurked at the Railway Park side. Distracted by a motorist while crossing, I turned to look and promptly tripped and hit the granite-like composite of the footpath, I cheese-grated the skin of my knee.
Unlike my primary school days, a wound like this, in my case, necessitates weeks of trying to heal and trips to the clinic.
Since my pratfall, I have seen at least two other older persons stumble over it; though luckily they were able to save themselves from falling onto a bed of pain.
I also see younger people fall at the kerbs here and not those fixated on their phones. These may be part of the ‘thousand shocks that flesh is heir to’. And I realise ‘worse things happen at sea’, as my mother would remind me in my boyhood; but-but…
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
