Crosswalk Etiquette.

A15

Frank E. Bastarache

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Speak Up

Last week, we looked at jaywalking in general, as well as what it really is and what (surprisingly) it is not. And I can tell you, in the case of the young, teenage idiot I saw this weekend, boldly crossing my lane when my car had barely past him and then LITERALLY STANDING UP in the street, talking to his just-departed friends (Freudian role reversal?) from the middle of the lane in front of oncoming traffic, you don't even have to be walking to be jaywalking.

We also introduced another type of Idiot: the driving one, who refuses to yield even when a pedestrian is already LEGALLY crossing the street. The question remains: who's to blame?

ANYBODY WANNA PLAY FROGGER?

I have yet to meet a sane and stable person whose goal in life is to be flattened like a pancake. And judging from our country's laws, I seriously have my doubts that many would choose to use their vehicle in order to fulfill their wish. So why do some drivers barrel through a crosswalk in use?

I will admit, I've done it before as well: no matter how attentive I remain while navigating this city's streets on rubber (and I hope you do too), there are times I will find myself surprised to come across a sidewalk whose use I just didn't notice. I do my best to yell, or at least mouth, "Sorry" to the most likely vexed pedestrians in question... and then I ask myself, "How come I didn't see that coming?"

Hopefully, I catch myself each time it occurs... which would be better than those drivers I've come across who simply do not even glance in my direction as they seemingly focus on anything apart from the fact that their vehicle is just two feet away from my two feet. I've thought of resurrecting the '80s day-glo motif, but I wouldn't want to attract Richard Simmons to our glorious city with my sporting of a deceptively alluring shade of chartreuse (let's forget the words pink, Speedo, and sexual harassment for the moment). Likewise, blinding drivers with the most daring shades of yellow and orange would defeat the purpose of wearing bright clothing in the first place (though Moncton might earn a claim to fame as the city with the most cars permanently wedged in storefront windows... Anyone at City Hall reading this?).

LOOKING INWARD

Neon revival aside, it should be human nature for all to reflect upon one's own actions, and ask if we ourselves are to blame for others not noticing our presence. If one remembers the old instructions that used to adorn the crosswalk buttons (as I recall those once at the intersection of Paul Street and Sunset Avenue, in front of the Burger King), it was clearly indicated to raise one's hand in the direction of the crosswalk, as to show cars the direction in which one wished to cross.

Then the rebuttal begins. Who raises their hand in the direction of the crosswalk anymore? If anything, a pedestrian will more often than not raise their hand in a "Stop" gesture towards oncoming cars (which often vexes me as I'm driving in their direction... Yeah, buddy, I didn't happen to see you standing right in front of me, but your small hand, WHOA, did that ever turn my head!). Most often, these self-appointed traffic cops are not even looking in the direction of the oncoming vehicle.

And then the story in my head veers another 180 degrees: "And what about all those people who walk unhesitatingly into a crosswalk, half the time with earphones on and blaring, without even giving a courteous glance to see if any cars are coming from either direction?"

I then congratulate myself on actually stopping at the side of the road to see if any traffic is coming before attempting to cross (even though one might argue that, half the time, drivers don't even know you're wanting to cross), and the debate ends in a swear word and a stalemate.

ON THE MOVE... OR AT A DEAD STOP

Although moving vehicles are often much more dangerous than stationary objects (aside from the line-up in front of the Tim Hortons at Champlain Place), these latter ones can really take the cake, and the crosswalk, at times. And we'll be looking at that next week.

Frank E. Bastarache is a citizen of Moncton who is amazed at what some people try to do when crossing the street. This is the third in a series of articles designed to help people become smarter (like it or not) on city streets.