Driving Home and Almost Mowing Down a Runner

I drove home from the train tonight at 8:31 pm. My two miles home takes me through back roads that go past the YMCA mansion that was once in the Cassatt family. I tell you this because the roads are small - old Philadelphia suburb roads that were once horse paths. No shoulder. No lights. Barely enough room for two cars to pass each other without cringing and worrying that the mirrors might smack together.

At 8:31PM this evening it was almost completely dark. Well past the gloaming. I was driving near the YMCA with my brights on, going about 25 mph, when I had to swerve at the last second. A goddam runner was on my side of the road, running toward me. If I hadn't swerved, I certainly would have hit her. As simple as that. She was dressed in a white shirt, dark shorts, a hat, and running shoes. No light. No reflective tape. Nothing. I don't know how the cars behind me missed her, except to say they swerved out when I did. It's just nuts. WTF is with runners doing that? I swear, she could have been killed.

The crazy part about the whole thing is everyone drives carefully on that path from my house to the train because of the abundance of deer in the area. We watch out. We drive slowly. We watch. And I say thank goodness, because one second of distraction, one moment of my mind wandering, one adjustment to the radio and the outcome would have been far different than a simple swerve.

I'm really rattled by this. It's not the first time I've seen runners on the road, but it's the first time it's came to the ragged edge. A neighbor of mine was hit by a car or truck (no one knows because the vehicle didn't stop) a few months ago riding in the same vicinity. She was flung to the ground and cracked her bike helmet off her head. She had major brain surgery, a piece of her skull was removed, and she has been in months of physical and cognitive therapy. For what?

I like to ride my bike. I even enjoy walking. But there are miles upon miles of bike paths in our area. There are walking paths. There are neighborhoods with sidewalks and street lights. So...why do people risk their lives and go on roads with no shoulders at dusk? This was one of those almost moments. But, mein gott, what if? This could have been one of those The Bonfire of the Vanities moments, where life is one way in one moment, and one way completely transformed in a blink of an eye.