Does anyone else feel really bad about unicycling past people in a wheelchair?

I rode past a lady in a wheelchair on a park trail. I didn't think about
it till I was past, but I did feel kinda bad. but eh? what can ya do?
maybe she could learn to Hand Wheel walk?

--
The Yang - Everything with practice

"Dude, I once saw a unicycle breastfeed a flamingo back to health"
-Random drunk rantings of a drunk man

------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Yang's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/9517
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

I'm actually more temped to ask them (wheelchair folk) if they want to
race. See, we're both in unusual situations, and it's hard to say who
would win in a race.

My point of view is that people shouldn't pitty themselves; they should
have fun with what they have. I bet that many people in wheelchairs
feel isolated from competitive activity, and a race is a way that they
could participate in a competitive activity. Maybe even laugh about
it.

On the other hand, it's hard to say whether they'd be offended or not.
I wouldn't want them to think that i'm making fun *of* them, when really
i'm more interested in making fun *with* them. So, in the end i just
ride by them and don't say anything. Maybe one day i'll pass by some
enthusiastic kid, and i'll ask him to race, but i'll have to play it by
ear.

As for people with canes, etc., they were once in our situation, and
soon we'll all be in their situation. That's life. No need to pitty or
feel bad. Again, just have fun with whatever situation you're in.

--
hecklar - Street Rider (Level 4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hecklar's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6917
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

I have a brother-in-law in a wheelchair, and he would probably love to
race a unicycle. In his new chair, he would almost certainly win. I
had to move it into the garage the other night and it was quick! :p

I wouldn't worry about riding past them on a unicycle anymore than I
would "walking" past them. If you were in their place, wouldn't you
just want to be treated normally as well???

Who knows, you might find a riding partner. 😄

My $.02,

Alan

--
ATRannals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATRannals's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10332
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

There are two kinds of people in wheelchairs or using canes or crutches.
One kind is healing, and only needs them temporarily. The other kind is
basically stuck with them. In either case, it's not your fault they have
physical problems. They would ride a unicycle if they could.

A good friend of my wife's has really bad CP. She's confined to a
wheelchair, and can barely move or speak. She likes to see me ride. She
would if she could, but she doesn't have a choice and she's over that.

It's nice of Hecklar to suggest a race against a wheelchair, but I can't
imagine a unicycle losing against a "regular" wheelchair. Only an
athlete in a "road" chair should be able to beat a unicycle...

--
johnfoss - More Moab Fun

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com

"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

I too feel embarrassed about riding past people in wheel chairs. It
feels like mocking them, like shoving in their face that I can do
something you won't be able too.

One time a friend and I were riding a skinny in town, and two women were
watching from a distance. Then their friend in a wheel chair came out,
and they all applauded our effort. This and another time when a woman in
a wheelchair complimented my riding, made me feel like I shouldn't feel
bad and like they appreciate us riding instead of feeling intimidated.

Also, I read a story on this forum about a girl with a prostaetic leg
who learned to ride a unicycle, so instead of feeling bad about their
handicaps, you can realize that some can be overcome 😉

--
dinmamma
------------------------------------------------------------------------
dinmamma's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/9995
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

Skippii said:

*Every time I uni past a wheelchair, or even just someone walking with
a cane, I feel really guilty, like I might as well just be pointing
and laughing at them.

I don't know what to do...it just seems mean to uni by disabled
people.

But, they're seem to be a lot of them around, so I can't really avoid
them.

Anyone else feel like this? *

I know exactly what you mean.

johnfoss said:

*In either case, it's not your fault they have physical problems. They
would ride a unicycle if they could.

*

I think that's part of why I feel a little bad- they probably would love
to have a go... but can't.

I guess it's partly cos unicyclists in public are so rare- you can
imagine that someone in a wheelchair is so used to seeing people walking
that they don't feel anything about it, but, seeing a unicycle you can
imagine them thinking 'hey, that looks cool, I'll give that a go......'
and then realising that they can't.

I know that whenever I see a kid being pushed in a wheelchair, i always
make eye contact and give them a smile, not sure why, but it seems like
a good thing to do.

--
onewheeldave - Semi Skilled Unicyclist

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the [censored] work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32
------------------------------------------------------------------------
onewheeldave's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/874
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

onewheeldave said:

*I think that's part of why I feel a little bad- they probably would
love to have a go... but can't.*

Having felt this myself, I think it might be that we feel guilty
ourselves. We have the healthy bodies and freedom to be able to
unicycle, while this person can't. In that case, we are no different
from people walking around. We just stand out more.

dinmamma mentioned how he felt he might be perceived as mocking the
folis in wheelchairs. I doubt this is true. On the contrary, permanent
wheelchair people probably don't even think about unicycling (much),
compared to the ambulatory people we see all the time. *They* are often
the ones feeling mocked; the ones who say rude things or attempt clever
remarks we've heard a thousand times. Hey, that guy can do something
that I know I never could. Therefore, he sucks!

The difference is, these people know they probably *could* unicycle if
they wanted to apply themselves, but for some reason they plant
themselves on the other side of the "can't" line.

From unicycling I have learned there is no "can't." I *can* B.A.S.E.
jump off a cliff, or my local Foresthill bridge (a famous spot for
this). I don't say I can't, I just don't plan on doing it. Big
difference.

--
johnfoss - More Moab Fun

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com

"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

Quoted message said:

I can't imagine a unicycle losing against a "regular" wheelchair.

Even with a 20" wheel? Even against a well experienced, Hulkster-armed
guy? Hmm, maybe you're right. I've never actually seen anyone go full
out in a wheelchair. That would be a cool sight to see someone go full
out on a regular wheelchair.

--
hecklar - Street Rider (Level 4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hecklar's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6917
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

you read my mind with this thread. i was unicycling at the board walk
the other day when i saw 3 diffrent people in wheel chairs, and on
looked like a mon in his early 20's. and i was comming toward him and he
was comming towards me and je just looked and kept talking to the man
pushing him. and i smiled at him and said 'its a really beautiful day🙂'
and the man pushing agreed and said im doing a good job. and i feel
really bad afterwards. if i was in a wheelchair, i dont know what i
would do.

--
pissinlemonaid - Tim's the sexiest avatar

"yo, she [censored], lets go!"
"there are some who call me....TIM"

HUZZAH TO THE TIPPA!!!! HUZZAH

Tim Braun is my bestest friend. =-]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
pissinlemonaid's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/8971
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

Quoted message said:

i
I felt really guilty, like I might as well just be pointing and
laughing at them.

I was unaware that riding a unicycle made someone else disabled.
Interesting.

--
nxixcxk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nxixcxk's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/10250
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

johnfoss said:

*On the contrary, permanent wheelchair people probably don't even
think about themselves unicycling, at least not in comparison to the
ambulatory people we see all the time. *They* are often the ones
feeling mocked; the ones who say rude things or attempt clever remarks
we've heard a thousand times. Hey, that guy can do something that I
know I never could. Therefore, he sucks!
*

Damn! I never thought of it *that* way. That's kinda deep.
Unfortunately, you have primed me to reply to some with:

"Yeah. You could never do this!"

(Not for all that comment, but, it's appropriate at times).

--
ChangingLINKS.com - member

Wishing you Happiness, Joy and Laughter,
Drew Brown
'Changing LINKS' (http://www.ChangingLINKS.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ChangingLINKS.com's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/5468
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

[quote="Quoted message"]-Originally posted by Skipii-
[B]

Quoted message said:

i
I felt really guilty, like I might as well just be pointing and
laughing at them.

Quoted message said:

-Originally posted by nxixcxk-
I was unaware that riding a unicycle made someone else disabled.
Interesting. [/B]

I've had similar thoughts while passing people in wheelchairs. I think,
however, that they probably don't see us differently then they see
people who riding bikes, run, or walk.

There's really two ways of looking at the world.

One way is to think about all the things you don't have and can't do.

They other way is to enjoy what you do have and what you are capable
of.

I'll never be a virtuoso violin player, or a famous basketball player.
I'll never have the body of an underwear model. I'll never be a top-tier
unicyclist either. However, I DO really enjoy all the things I can do.

The only people that will envy you are in the first group. They may or
may not be in wheelchairs. I'm sure if I wound up in a wheelchair, I
would have great difficulty coming to terms with it, but you do get to
choose how you view your situation.

The people that truly inspire me are people that are disadvantaged, yet
find a way to EXCEED what "normal" people can do.

Wheelchair and prostetic marathoners and other athletes. Blind musicans
and scholars. One-armed drummers. Unicyclists with one leg. These people
don't stop and think to envy you.

--
mscalisi - Not such a newbie anymore
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mscalisi's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4961
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

My thought on this is that if I ever ended up in a wheel chair I'd much
rather see people using the gifts they've got while they have them,
rather than people who are theoretically able bodied sitting around
doing nothing. But then it's always difficult to say how you would feel
in a situation which you have never been in.

John

--
johnhimsworth - Nullus Anxietas

What if the hokey cokey really is what it's all about?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnhimsworth's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1788
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

hecklar said:

*I'm actually more temped to ask them (wheelchair folk) if they want
to race. See, we're both in unusual situations, and it's hard to say
who would win in a race.*

They would... no problem. The racing wheelchairs are fast... really
fast!

They enter the Manchester to Blackpool run and last year we set off
about the same time as a couple of them. I could just hold them on the
flat cruising at 16 to 17 mph. They slowed on the long hills down to 8
or 9 mph and I could catch and pass them, but on the down hills they
were doing I would guess over 30 mph.

Roger

--
rogeratunicycledotcom - ok ish Unicyclist

++++++++++++++++++
Unicycle.com in the UK
The UK's Unicycle Source
www.unicycle.uk.com
+++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------------------------------------------------
rogeratunicycledotcom's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4116
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

They would be more offended by you feeling bad about it than anything
else.

--
Seager - that one guy who does that stuff

'Team RoadShow' (http://www.teamroadshow.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seager's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/8840
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

Skippii said:

*Anyone else feel like this?*

*NO! well, not anymore*

I really use to have that feeling.
But after I had some women in wheelchair starting conversations with me,
I just told them about it. That I feel kind of guilty.

Both said I had the wrong point of view. They see someone who's using
his gifts, and enjoying his health. They enjoy to see that much more
than people who don't do that.

So now when I see someone in wheelchair I'm still sorry for them, but
don't feel so uncomfortable anymore.

--
leo - Leo Vandewoestijne

'+1 866-UNI-CYCL' (callto://+18668642925)
'unicycle.net' (http://www.unicycle.net/)

'Subscribe' (http://unicyclist.org/cont/subscribe.cfm) to
'unicyclist.org' (http://unicyclist.org/) !
------------------------------------------------------------------------
leo's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/224
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

ChangingLINKS.com said:

*Thus, demonstrating an ability (that is common) "causes" the people
without the ability to be "un/dis/not"-abled. *

That must be why I always feel like [censored] after a visit to the circus,
or watching Jeopardy, or going to a concert, etc. 🙄

In other words, I don't agree. When we ride, we are exhibiting a skill
most people don't have, but that most can learn if they want. It's not
our fault that we can do it while others can't.

--
johnfoss - More Moab Fun

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com

"Read the rules!" -- 'IUF Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/iuf/rulebook/) -- 'USA Rulebook'
(http://www.unicycling.org/usa/competition/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734

Something tells me that people in wheelchairs are no different than
anyone else we might pass by.

We are sort of assuming that they might feel bad about not being able to
uni--but that is only because WE love to uni, and so naturally we assume
that everyone must secretly have the same desire, even the ones who make
the dumb jokes like "hey, where's your other wheel."

The difference is only for ourselves--when we see someone in a
wheelchair, we naturally assume that they will be forever barred from
the unicycle and thus we pity them because as unicyclists, they have
become hopeless, unlike all the other bipeds walking around and shouting
silly jokes at us.

But they are no different from anyone else. Whatever issues they have
had with their own bodies has probebly been hashed out and resolved by
the time they are out in public. They probebly think the exact same
things that walking people think when they see us one-wheelers zooming
by--envy, indifference, contempt, laughter, and of course, the circus
song...

I ride past people in wheelchairs every day. I don't feel any worse for
them when I'm on a uni than I would if I were walking. They're human
beings--they don't want our pity, and it is not nice to give them
any--people hate to be condescended to, and I know that if I started to
"feel sorry" for people in wheelchairs simply because I am riding past
them on a one-wheel would be condescending and it just leads to a lot of
awkwardness and embarressment where there shouldn't be any at all.

The sight of a person in a wheelchair DOES remind me to be careful in
traffic. And to wear a helmet.

The odd thing is this:

I am sure that somewhere, someplace, there was a unicycler riding by a
person in a wheelchair, and that person in the wheelchair yelled out,
"Hey! Where's your other wheel?!"
How would you answer THAT?

Second:
Instead of racing a person on a wheelchair, how about a basketball
game....between....you guessed it....a unicycle basketball team VS a
wheelchair basketball team!
Now that would be something! A lot of crashing chrome!

--
dogbowl - Member, Sun28 Appreciation Society

So I ride a Sun 28er. You gotta problem with that?

All I want out of life is to be able to ride the unicycle while smoking
a cigar at the same time. Is that too much to ask for?
www.dogbowl.com / www.eyeballplanet.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------
dogbowl's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6629
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/41734