TRIPPED

It has been a month or two, maybe more, since I was following another man as we were both heading to Safeway across the parking lot when he did a sudden change of direction and started running. He had spotted a lady who had fallen. When I first saw her, she was struggling to get up, but couldn't quite manage. We were the first two to come to her aid.

She had obviously hit her head quite hard on the pavement. Their was a small puddle of blood and her glasses were broken. There was, however, no severe bleeding. I held her head and reassured her while the other man went for assistance. A third man arrived with a cell phone.

The lady was lucid. The blow had not knocked her senseless. She was upset with herself for having tripped and for having broken her glasses. She was aware that one of the lenses was now missing and was concerned about finding it. I spotted it and put it in her hand, telling her everything would be alright. She wanted to phone her son and was able to give the number to the man with the phone. A fourth man arrived who said he was a paramedic. At that time, the first man came back with towels from Safeway which I placed under the lady's head and stepped aside to let the paramedic take over.

The lady had tripped on a speed bump in the parking lot. It was not a large one, and it was marked well with yellow paint. Still, if you are not expecting them and not paying close attention or have your vision blocked by the grocery bags you are carrying, they are a hazard. You may know that speedbumps have been a concern of mine for some time because of what they symbolize and imply. She seemed a very nice lady. I wonder if she will sue.

I had thought that my adopted home town was more immune from such bumps, but I was probably wrong. Recently, I learned from a fellow who drives a bus that transports people in wheelchairs, other disabled people, and the elderly that there are many speedbumps around here. Many mobile home parks and apartment complexes where the elderly live have them, for example, as do many of the places they go to for medical care.

There are constant groans from riders who must endure as the bus rocks and sways. Dual rear wheels and questionable suspension on the buses make negotiating them comfortably extremely difficult. Also, the Principle of the Lever is at work. Riders are as if further out from the fulcrum, so a small bump or sway is translated into a larger one.

Why are speedbumps there? Could it be to "grow" a problem? Now, what problem would that be? For whose benefit? Then, why are those who must suffer the outrageous potholes life puts in their way (and others) forced to suffer these incursions through their pain threshold caused by speedbumps?

Speedbumps are not just an acknowledgement and acceptance of failure. They are worse. Shame.

Copyright © 2003, Donald L. Beeman. All rights reserved.

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