Ah, the joys of being a pedestrian in an urban environment in the United States of America. Navigating a busy city is quite a thrilling experience, and it’s a skill that must be mastered if you don’t want to end up as roadkill.
First, there’s the issue of cars turning right onto a busy street. As a pedestrian approaching from the right, it’s always a gamble whether or not you’ll be able to cross the road safely. The driver is constantly looking left, waiting for a gap in traffic, completely ignoring you standing right in front of them, ready to walk across. It’s as if you’re invisible to them.
And then there’s the problem of crosswalks. Sure, they should be safe for pedestrians, but they aren’t always. Drivers turning left onto the street often try to beat the red left turn arrow and completely disregard pedestrians in their way. Or cars turning right, hoping to cross before the light turns red, causing you to have to dodge them as they zoom past, honking and flipping you off.
But not just cars on the road pose a threat. All vehicles turning off the street into parking lots, shopping centers, and other places are hazardous as well. You must be vigilant for cars and trucks careening off the road and onto the sidewalk, with seemingly no regard for pedestrians in their path.
And don’t forget about the other hazards pedestrians must face. Bicycles and scooters, for instance, should not be on the sidewalks but always seem to be there anyway. Skateboarders and rollerbladers also think they own the sidewalks, creating a dangerous minefield to dodge.
So, please, be considerate of pedestrians. We’re just trying to get from one place to the next without getting hurt. And pedestrians, stay safe!