It appears winter might finally have given up its annual fight and retreated to wherever the nasty season hides out over the warm months of spring, summer and fall.
The recession of winter means we can finally head outside to play, and we tend to do that with a certain level of robust enthusiasm.
Tennis courts, ball and disc golf courses, horseshoe pits, walking trails, ball diamonds and playgrounds all become gathering places for people.
Which of course is a good thing on many levels, including being good for those involved based on the health benefits of being active.
And, in Yorkton we are generally lucky in regards to a full range of outdoor recreational facilities and programming to support those partaking.
With all the activity though we need to remember people are out-and-about.
That means we need to remember to be aware when driving.
We know we need to be cautious when driving by school zones, and by law we have to slow down. But remember school grounds do not stop drawing children to play within the usual times of classes. It is now just as likely they might be out kicking a soccer ball, playing on the slides, or throwing basketballs at a hoop.
Those activities also mean they might venture out onto an adjacent street with less care and attention than they should show, which means we as adult drivers need to be more cautious on their behalf.
That holds true for drivers needing to watch out for pedestrians who often walk with earphones listening to their favourite tunes, and of course for those on bicycles which share city streets with motor vehicles but are not motorized.
That said pedestrians and bicyclists have to remember the rules of the road as well.
There are crosswalks for pedestrians to use, and they should.
And bicyclists need to remember they too are governed by the laws pertaining to the road, something which seems to elude a fair share of bicyclist who seem to think themselves immune to such things, and reliant on the good reflexes of drivers.
So as the joy of the outdoors this summer gets fully under way the simple message is be aware and be safe on the streets.
