My very first column many moons ago was about how people treat me like I’m 6ft-wide, jumping out of the way or pinning themselves against buildings as I pass by. Well, it seems in the last two and bit years things have changed. Recently I have found myself becoming increasingly more irritated by pavements hogs.

Let me elaborate. I may have told a little white lie in the former paragraph. When I come down the street approaching people they are more often than not kind and step aside in an appropriate manner (perhaps they read my first column?).

It is when approaching an individual or even worse a group from behind is when the problem arises. I have no idea how one person can take up a 6ft-wide pavement but believe me they can. I guess it must a psychological ‘safe in the middle’ akin to motorway lane etiquette.

As a wheelchair user who is not 6ft-wide nor a normal human width I can’t simply slip by. In addition I have noticed that I enjoy the freedom of having wheels in that actually I can get some serious speed up on the flat and on the downhill.

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After five years in my chair I am used to getting from places at my natural speed which is definitely faster than my old walking pace. Gotta take the perks right? Perhaps this has made me extra impatient but to put effort into to brake/swerve for the middle lane pavement walkers gets annoying.

In reality I have to slow to a virtual stop and say excuse me, and excuse me again, and then excuse me again. Perhaps it’s due to my seated height that people don’t hear or they use their peripheral vision to check at eye height, probably for a cyclist or a mother with pram. Once I raise my voice or someone with them notices me, it’s all a bit embarrassing.

They feel shame for looking round and not seeing me. I am obviously a bit narky after trundling behind them for a few minutes trying to be polite and gradually essentially shouting and slowly losing my initial friendly ‘excuse me’ face.

My friends often joke that I can part the seas (well crowds) like Moses – and to be fair once I get their attention the crowds do split in a somewhat satisfying way.

I guess it’s another one of those odd just grin and bear it things attached to being a wheelchair user. Perhaps I should employ some assistance in the form of one of those obnoxious cycling bells and tear up the streets or maybe it’s time for a pre-recorded excuse me button up on my wheelchair, or even time to invest in a cattle prod? I’m being silly of course. It would just be nice if we are all a bit more aware of our environs and each other’s needs – myself included.

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