Well…It can be. I spend a lot of time walking and jogging in the park when the snow and ice are gone so I have had more than my share of not-so-good experiences. Don’t get me wrong the Heritage Grove Park is maybe the best thing about Spruce Grove, but we really need to be more careful out there.

Late one hot morning in early July I was about half way through my 5.5 mile walk. I was heading south close to the park entrance just off Grove Drive next to Lou Simon Village. I was plodding down the hill just before the second bridge and before the playground near the south end of Lou Simon village when I hear a rollerblader coming up behind me. If you spend anytime on these paved paths you can recognize their distinctive whooshing rhythm. So without looking, I move over to the right to accommodate the rollerblader. But what happened next happened in a flash.

As the human vehicle came fast down the hill and up on my left I turn my head to see him and out of the corner of my eye and I notice he is holding a leash. In an instant I am taken off my feet. While in mid-air I remember hearing something about God and the damned coming out of my mouth. The human vehicle went to my left but his large dog went to my right. He did not relinquish the leash until it was too late. I heard the human vehicle say “sorry” as he kept on going––I never saw him again.

I was lucky that I turned and had a millisecond to prepare my fall by turning to face the pavement and get my arm out to avoid a possible head injury. What I did end up with was a bad rope (leash) burn and cut across the back of my knee. See the attached photo. The leash was of the flat nylon variety and the edge of it did the damage.

My leg has now healed from the accident, and understand that the event was just that an accident. But what really concerns this Local Yokel is that the human vehicle just left without seeing how badly I was hurt or if I needed help. I think they call that not taking responsibility of ones actions. We all make mistakes but should be honorable enough to own up to them.

Now this is not the only traffic violation that has happened in the park trail system not to mention the City sidewalks that I see with increasing occurrence. There seems to be a lack of understanding of the rules of the road in our community. We seem to have forgotten that pedestrians always have the right of way always! Moving vehicles are supposed to yield to pedestrians. Bicycles are moving vehicles, but I can’t count the time cyclists have forced me off a city sidewalk because they don’t know or care for the rules of the road not to mention manners. Now I don’t mind the little ones under the age of 11 as we need to keep them safe while they are learning the rules of the road, but if you are older on a bicycle and in a huge hurry, follow the rules of the road and yield to pedestrians.

I feel the City and Spruce Grove City Council should take it upon itself to somehow inform its citizens of the rules of the road and trail etiquette as it applies to the Heritage Grove Park system and City Sidewalks. Maybe some informational signs at the major park entrances educating could be a start. It might just avert a more serious accident.