Marked crosswalk. Button has been pushed so the lights are clearly flashing. And then the fun begins. Sometimes people will blow through the crosswalk as a pedestrian takes their first hesitant step out into the street. Sometimes they’ll take their foot off the gas for a moment, then gun it through and give you a smile or wave as you jump back onto the sidewalk. I’m not sure which of the next two are worse… the ones who never fully stop and just continually creep up on you as you walk in front of them, jamming the gas pedal the second you’re an inch past your car… or the ones who sit there and rev the engine impatiently before taking off the second they think you’re clear of the car.
I get it. I’m a pedestrian. And I’m walking in the street, the car domain. I’m in your way and, thereby, interrupting your commute. Guess what, your commute will be a heck of a lot longer if you hit me while I’m walking in a marked crosswalk with flashing lights.
—Not going away
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2017.