The dangers of walking
Which comes first? The walkers or the cars?
Over the years I have developed a “pedestrians first” attitude. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t carelessly run out in front of moving vehicles assuming that they will all stop for me. I do, however, expect that they will follow the rules that we were all supposed to have learned in driving school…pedestrians have the right of way. At least in many cases.
Given that fact I have always found it so strange how people practically run when a driver stops to let them cross the street. More often than not it is a designated crossing spot and yet…inevitably the person starts walking faster than necessary or even slowly running. It is as if somehow our “slowness” it not ok.
I’m sure that many drivers would probably prefer not to stop but they wait because they are decent and it is the law. But why does the person crossing often feel compelled to rush across the street? Even I fall victim to this sometimes. I feel like the drivers are watching me. Impatiently waiting for me to pick up the pace. I’m telling you now…when I am in my 80’s and crossing I will not be rushing! Sorry if you drivers are late. You should have left earlier.
Obviously at intersections with street lights the situation is a bit different. Because the aim is to get to the opposite corner before the light changes you can only hope that you have enough time without having to make a mad dash to the other side. It can really be stressful if you are a slower walker (older person, physically challenged or little kid) because the DON’T WALK is usually flashing before you are halfway across.
I have a crosswalk related memory involving one of my uncles. I was probably 10 or so and he was visiting us in Encino, CA where there are a lot of cars. We were crossing Ventura Boulevard(a pretty busy street) on the green WALK sign. We were half-way across when the sign turned red and began flashing DON’T WALK. Pretty standard. Usually that was when I would start walking faster. Not my uncle.
He stops dead in the middle of the street! He says something about how it says don’t walk so he’s not walking. I think he was trying to be funny but I freaked and started pulling on him. I was sure that he was going to get run over. In retrospect I was probably more embarrassed than anything. Just when it seemed all was lost he started walking and got to the corner just in time to avoid getting honked at by the impatient L.A. drivers. I believe my sister was with us and I vaguely remember her handling herself better than me. She is good in a crisis.
Really strange how such a simple act of walking across the street has so much potential to be stressful.
Thankfully, every now and again I end up stopped for someone who clearly has none of these issues. This person checks both directions, steps off the curb and…just walks. No stress about rushing to accommodate the cars. Also, clearly no issues about how long it will take to cross. I love that. Life is too short to rush.
Pedestrians vs. anything with wheels…the darker side.
One of the places I used to spend time with my mom was Westwood, Los Angeles. There were movie theaters, Me and Me falafels(sadly out of business) and sidewalks lined with many stores. We would walk and talk and look. When I was about 17 a man who was upset with the police decided to get back at them by driving down one of the sidewalks in this very popular area. In the process he killed a teenager and injured 54 other people. How horribly insane is that? Those people were just enjoying their Friday evening and wham! As with so many senseless acts of violence…there is nothing ok about that.
A different, but equally distressing, event happened right here in the town I live in. About fifteen years ago a lovely woman I knew was waiting to cross the street. She was on the corner of one the town’s main intersections. It was a Sunday and, if you can believe it, she had just come from church services. As she waited a very large truck took it’s right turn a little too fast and a lot too tight. She was knocked over and the back right tire drove over one of her legs. Thankfully the local medical clinic was directly across the street and someone ran and got the doctor. If not for that act and the quick actions of the doctor she would have died. She still ended up losing 3/4 of her leg.
Sometimes when I am driving I realize how incredibly easy it would be to hit/run over an animal or human being. I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER DO IT! It is just the frightening realization of the size and weight disparity between vehicles and our little bodies. Thankfully there is more good than bad in the world or the roads would be littered with crushed animals and people.
Watching your back!
These are clearly dramatic examples of the dangers of being a pedestrian. Obviously, it isn’t all that bad. While it might vary from city to city or country to country, for the most part people really do watch out for walkers. They also probably don’t spend too much time imagining ways to knock off the pedestrians.
I do think that it would be insensitive to ignore the fact that in many places in the world it is not safe to take a casual walk. Bad things do happen and it is more than unfortunate that the simple act of taking a walk can have horrific consequences.
However, for the vast majority, the greatest risks of walking are more likely to be stepping in dog poop or gum or maybe missing the curb and twisting your ankle.
Rather than stressing about how fast we cross the street and who might be waiting for us to step up onto the curb, we just need to enjoy the act of being out and about. Walking has too many wonderful benefits to waste time thinking about how it could all go wrong.
As a walker it is ultimately about being aware of your surroundings.
We just need to trust that our fellow humans will not to run us over while our back is to them.
