Bike Texting is NOT the Only Danger Here

This time it's actually not your fault, Bobby.

The Boston media is going to have a field day with this Bobby Valentine "fell off his bike reading a text from Pedroia" incident, which was first reported by the New York Times.

The obvious angle is that it's a perfect metaphor for the Red Sox season, and a fitting end to the year. Parents and school teachers can use it as a humorous safety lesson about the perils of texting while biking or driving. But I think most people will overlook an essential ingredient at the heart of this story.  Here's a quote from the Times article in which I have underlined the key element:

"On the wet, slippery path, Valentine was reading a text on his phone from Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox second baseman, and riding his bicycle. When he looked up, he had to swerve to avoid the umbrellas of two French tourists walking in front of him. The bike skidded, and he lost his balance and went careening head over pedals down the side of the hill by the road."

Equally as hazardous as the texting while biking are the umbrellas, most likely being carried by people paying no attention to their surroundings.  On another note, doesn't that seem like a couple fairly poorly written sentences for the New York Times?

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