OPINION: Footpath traffic snarls

As a regular walker on Geraldton’s footpaths I feel it is my civic duty to bring to the attention of the appropriate authorities that a growing menace is threatening the everyday pedestrian. Yes I know these are troubled times that we are enduring, but the dual-pronged assault of out of control mobility scooters, or gophers, and motorised pushbikes has added another level of threat that previously didn’t exist. And dear reader neither the gopher nor power assisted-cycle pilot seem to care what they do on our footpaths. I hesitate to recommend that gophers should be on our roads, though I have seen them there. Men and women blissfully motoring along Durlacher Street, a steady stream of four-wheel-drives behind them. A couple of weeks ago I saw a motorised pushbike bounce off a temporary fence at Maitland Park. The male rider, without a helmet, was obviously not in control. I took to Cathedral Avenue so I wouldn’t further halt his progress. Should I report these breaches of common sense and decency to the constabulary? Or should I just shrug my shoulders and accept that it is the modern way? I feel almost guilty bringing what might be regarded as minor breaches of the law to light but what qualifications do gopher drivers have to operate their vehicles? It seems that the only things mandatory are Australian flag stickers and a basket with a six pack of full-strength beer therein. Motorised bikes are different. Perched precariously behind the handlebars, the rider races at warp pace without once turning the pedals. What benefit is there in such an activity? In the good old days one stood up and pedalled hard to ascend a hill. Now the battery powered velocipede takes the lazy human to the top of Mt Misery. In John O’Grady’s immensely popular book They’re A Weird Mob he paid homage to the work ethic that was taking our country forward after World War II. I wonder what he would make of the countless thousands of old Aussies now captive to the gopher or their younger compatriots who believe that riding a battery-powered bike is somehow making them healthy. And dare I mention the O word? Obesity? Mobility scooters and motorised pushies don’t help. Please walk on the footpath.