Coquitlam mayor writes sarcastic Facebook post about distracted walker

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart has created a social media stir with his recent post about a distracted walker.

Stewart, who has made headlines before for wearing the same suit for 15 months, posted on Tuesday about an encounter with a woman who was texting and walking.

Stewart was riding his bike when he says the woman walked out between two parked cars, right into traffic, with her head down, texting on her phone.

Stewart says the woman then swore at him for not watching where he was going.

His Facebook post has garnered almost 2,000 likes, more than 300 shares and more than 200 comments.

Here’s the full text of Stewart’s post:

I want to apologize to the woman I almost hit with my bike yesterday morning; I lost some sleep last night over it. I know I had the right-of-way, and I know you were texting while jaywalking, and I realize you obviously didn’t look up from your phone to check for oncoming vehicles before stepping out from where you were hidden between parked cars, right into traffic. I realize the marked crosswalk was about 10m away, and therefore inconvenient for you as, judging by the briskness of your step, you were apparently in quite a hurry. I realize you wouldn’t have heard my approach, as bikes are typically as silent as, say, an electric car; thank goodness it was a bike, as a car would have killed you.
I clearly heard your angry retort to the effect that I should watch where I’m going. And I clearly heard the adjective starting with “F” (I assume you meant it as an adjective, though it’s actually a verb), and the noun you employed to imply that my parents weren’t married.
My deep apologies for almost striking a careless, preoccupied, selfish, rude jaywalker, potentially injuring or killing one or both of us.
Please, if you are going to jaywalk into traffic, at least look up from your phone.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: I want to apologize to the woman I almost hit with my bike yesterday morning; I lost some sleep last night over it. I know I had the right-of-way, and I know you were texting while jaywalking, and I realize you obviously didn't look up from your phone to check for oncoming vehicles before stepping out from where you were hidden between parked cars, right into traffic. I realize the marked crosswalk was about 10m away, and therefore inconvenient for you as, judging by the briskness of your step, you were apparently in quite a hurry. I realize you wouldn't have heard my approach, as bikes are typically as silent as, say, an electric car; thank goodness it was a bike, as a car would have killed you.<br />I clearly heard your angry retort to the effect that I should watch where I'm going. And I clearly heard the adjective starting with "F" (I assume you meant it as an adjective, though it's actually a verb), and the noun you employed to imply that my parents weren't married.<br />My deep apologies for almost striking a careless, preoccupied, selfish, rude jaywalker, potentially injuring or killing one or both of us.<br />Please, if you are going to jaywalk into traffic, at least look up from your phone.

The post has again raised the issue of ticketing distracted walkers.

A distracted driving ticket in B.C. will cost drivers a minimum of $368 and four points on their licence.

What do you think? Should distracted walkers be issued a ticket?