In 2024, health problems forced Peggy & I to give up our daily bike rides due to increased safety risks. I (Joe) then began morning walks for exercise.
I also used my walk time as an extended training session for our Morkie service dog, Zuzu. She is trained as an auditory alert dog for Peggy who has a hearing deficit at high-frequencies. Zuzu cues her in on things she cannot hear. As a certified service dog, Zuzu travels with us everywhere: stores, restaurants, hospitals, medical offices, etc. She is comfortable traveling in cars, airplanes, subways, taxis, trains, and boats. She needs to be totally comfortable in all surroundings and alert to changes. That is the focus of our morning walks: honing these skills and improving her response to verbal and gentle physical commands as well as polite controlled interactions with humans of all ages. I joke that Zuzu has an order from by cardiologist to exercise me — and she takes that seriously.
Soon after I started walking, I encountered bicycles who zipped by me from behind with no warning. I was fearful for my own safety because if a biker should "bump" me it is necessary for me to call 911 and go to an ER because of the threat of massive bleeding due to the meds I must take. Perhaps more terrifying to me is the threat to Zuzu because I cannot safeguard her from these stealth threats to us.
I began to call out to bikers when a transgression had occurred. In the majority of the cases I was "flipped off" or otherwise dissed.
After one particularly hazardous experience, I came upon a Marco Island police officer who was parked along the street. I told him what had happened. He said there was nothing he could do.
In 2025, I experienced another year of this daily threat - but felt too dispirited to do anything.
In January 2026, after a period of extremely limited energy, I had a narrow escape from serious heart damage. I "came back to life'" after medical procedures and was able to begin daily walks again. Having just learned how ephemeral and precious being alive was, I decided I could no longer just "walk by" without addressing the problem of hazardous overtaking by bikes.
The idea of a Public Awareness and Education effort to take a positive approach toward making things better developed. WBRSI then evolved.
