You can spot them from a mile away.
Their hair is unique, sometimes cut in a Mohawk, other times longer, and their shoes are always distinguishable. Their normally wearing street clothes with some sort of bag slung over one shoulder. Sometimes they wear uniforms consistent with a local business.
Every time, they are walking or pushing a bicycle on the side of the road. And when the many, many foreign exchange workers – often times from East Europe and Russia – are peddling or pushing their bikes on the side of busy highways, trouble can occur.
It’s a sight often seen on the bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway while traveling on Hwy. 501. The very skinny shoulder provides little protection from speeding motorists. Furthermore, the foreigners usually push bicycles, not ride them, making the width of the shoulder that much slimmer.
Just the other day I almost hit one with the side-view mirror on my Buick. He was walking his bike north on Hwy. 501 with the bike on his right side. His steps were literally right on the white line, giving me little choice but to move slightly toward the inside lane. I found out very quickly that a car was traveling at the same speed to my left. He honked as I most likely tested his nerves when trying to avoid the foreign pedestrian.
Tragedy was avoided, but it was close call that didn’t need to happen. It’s a situation that has happened often and perhaps drivers less sympathetic would not have changed their course, possibly causing harm to the walker.
Look, they are normally here legally to either study or work for the summer which is definitely respectable. But soon enough, some unlucky bicyclist is going to be the victim of a terrible accident involving a car. The shoulders are no place for anyone to be walking or riding. They need to take advantage of public transportation or Myrtle Beach must become more biker friendly.
Until then, expect certain human obstacles on busy highways.
