It's interesting to see everyone's interpretations.
When I wrote the prompt, I imagined it taking place around the time that @mgaft1 said, but I intentionally left it vague. So modern day or historical are both fine. He could be riding a horse, a bike, in a carriage, in a car, whatever you all wanted for your stories. 😉
Yes, I think it being vague had something to do with the direction I went. The way you used it was very clever as a key part of the prompt, giving the feeling of going one way, but also allowing for a broader interpretation. Thanks for the explanation!