You can look...but DON'T TOUCH!

Since I bought my scooter, I knew that strangers unseen were approaching it and having a bit of fun. For the most part, I didn't mind as long as they left it in the same condition they found it. Occasionally, I'd get the impression that they sat on it because the mirrors were in a different position than what I'd set them at, but other than being a minor annoyance, I just readjusted them and was on my merry way.

Except the most recent time, someone took it too far. I parked it close to where the Stratford bus was downtown and came back into the city late at night. Riding home, everything was fine, and I was happy because I parked it in a busy area with lots of other cars and two-wheelers. Other than having to really carefully back it in because of the cars on the street, I thought everything was fine.

Fast forward a couple days later to when I'm taking the Gardiner west. I look behind me, merge safely, and think of nothing but avoiding any bumps in the road. Because I'm aware of the fact that cars can have a more difficult time gauging my speed and the distance they are behind me, I frequently check my mirrors to see what's going on.

So when I did my first mirror check, you can imagine my shock when my left mirror was turned toward me 90 degrees, the wind having pushed it inward. What the heck?? I thought to myself, although I used a much stronger four-letter word than "heck". I tried pushing it back into place, but the effort was in vain: it stayed put for about half a second, and then flapped right back to a completely unusable position. Although I still had my right mirror, a tiny squirm of panic rose in my throat. How was I supposed to see what was behind me? What would happen if a cop car passed me and noticed I only had one properly-placed mirror? Would anything go wrong because I wasn't able to see 100% of the road behind me?

Just as quickly as that feeling came over me, I quelled it down, reverting back to my driving experience. I wasn't going to be on the Gardiner forever, and there weren't a whole lot of cars there, either. It was swivel head checks and reliance on the right mirror for the rest of the trip until I could get the darn thing fixed, which I did with the handy mini tool kit included with the bike.

Never mind the countless drivers who hit or scratch another car and leave without telling anyone, what this person did put me in temporary danger. Scratch my bike, sit on it — whatever. But mess around with my mirrors so it's loose? I have a few choice words for you.