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For the love of God, people. Why does such a basic rule of the road seem to be completely unknown to so many drivers? Listen, crosswalks exist at every intersection, MARKED OR UNMARKED. It’s not complicated. If there is an intersection there is a crosswalk. Four, actually, at most intersections. I’m pretty sick of waiting for cars upon cars at a corner to cross and especially sick of being flipped off (yes, this happens) by drivers when showing that I would like to take the right of way at some point. And no I’m not one of those geniuses who walks blindly into an intersection staring at their phone instead of the traffic. People seem to be decent at stopping at marked crosswalks, but unmarked? Forget about it. But given that there are so many collisions between cars and pedestrians at MARKED crosswalks, I’m probably putting way too much faith in our society here. —Waiting to cross
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2015.
i like this
THE TRANSCENDENTAL CROSSWALK
“Listen, crosswalks exist a every intersection, MARKED OR UNMARKED. It’s not complicated. If there is an intersection there is a crosswalk.” Waiting to cross
Even though a crosswalk is not marked it is still there. Its existence is not determined by any mundane marking. Rather, its existence springs from its transcendental nature. In the same way as earthly reality is but a reflection of Plato’s transcendent “Ideas” or “Forms,” – a chair is a chair because it participates in Plato’s Form of the Chair, the source of its reality – so the reality of the unmarked crosswalk is but a pale reflection of the transcendent Form of the Unmarked Crosswalk, that which imbues its earthly manifestation with its reality.
The only difficulty relates to the counter-factual, a standard technique in philosophical analysis. In other words, if there were no unmarked crosswalks – if crosswalks had to be marked to exist – could the Platonic Form of the Unmarked Crosswalk be said to exist? But if the Form of the Unmarked Crosswalk did not exist does this mean that Plato’s transcendent “Ideas” or “Forms” are little more than a chimera or a fantasy? Is Metaphysics itself to be brought under the same interdict? The mind boggles.
A pleasure as always,
Cheerio!
By law, you have to wait for the cars to stop. You don’t have the right to take the right of way at some point, otherwise you’re one of those geniuses who walking blindly into an intersection…
OB, are you the idiot who was sticking his arm out onto Robie Street at the corner of Kane on Saturday, expecting four lanes of traffic to stop for you? Saturday’s roads were really icy. Robie is Halifax’s main artey and that area is always busy, and very close to a blind corner. You were a mere two blocks from a clearly marked intersection. Crosswalks may exist at every corner, but your common sense doesn’t seem to exist at all. Why don’t you try trading in that entitled attitude for some workshops on day-to-day decision-making and how to respect the environment around you.
There was a power failure at the corner of Spring Garden and Summer a few days ago. The signal lights were out so the drivers were all taking turns carefully proceeding as if it was a simple four way stop. The pedestrians as well were cooperating with the traffic and taking turns crossing with the ebb and flow of traffic. It was the most orderly I have ever seen that intersection! I was amazed. It made me wonder if we are better off without lights at the very busy intersections like that one and others downtown. The lights seem to give drivers and pedestrians a false sense of entitlement and security whereas stop signs seem to make everyone pay attention.
good to see you back surfer girl….missed your voice of reason
Thanks Good dog 🙂
I agree that everyone, pedestrians included should use a little common sense and discretion, but for a number of years I crossed an unmarked crosswalk every day to get to and from my office. I felt like my life was at risk every day. I had many incidents where drivers either whizzed by and gave me dirty looks (as if to say, “There are no crosswalk lines. Who do you think you are?”) or even blew their horns at me. So I also agree with the OB that there seem to be a lot of drivers who either don’t know about the regulations around unmarked crosswalks or simply choose to ignore.
Meh…my insurance will cover your/my mistakes. Either way, i still win. See you on the road, OB!!!
Hmmm, I’ve never been cursed out or flipped off crossing at an “unmarked crosswalk”, probably because I wait for it to be clear or the traffic stops. Then I hustle my ass across and give a thank you wave.