The Age of Crossing

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The other day I approached a neighbourhood cross-walk and then pushed the button mounted on the light standard to activate the intent-to-cross signal that runs overhead across the painted pedestrian walk.

I paused on the curb’s edge, looking down the near traffic lane — as I was headed north — and saw an oncoming crossover¹ proceeding at a comfortable velocity eastbound. I looked towards the driver to establish eye-contact. Instead I distinctly noted that he was eyes-front and intent. He passed on at the same uninterrupted velocity; his visage uninterrupted with neither a pause nor blink.

As the car behind him stopped to let me cross, I looked up the westbound lane and saw a column of three vehicles coming to full stop. I then proceeded to cross waving an acknowledgment and thanks at both lanes of traffic.

In my younger days I may have had a moment of mental fulmination directed at the first vehicle’s driver — the one who didn’t stop. This time — and it’s been years since I’ve had a near-incident with vehicular traffic — I barely managed a sigh and a hint of a raised eyebrow.

Incredibly, years ago, I would have noted that vehicle drivers who cannot be bothered to slow down — never mind stop — while driving in-city fail to accept that the rush they embrace dearly would invariably get them to the next red traffic signal slightly sooner².

The cross-walk I used is one short city block west of a traffic-light controlled intersection — which, by the way, is a speed trap of some notoriety for as long as I remember in my almost thirty-six years in this neighbourhood. I have always maintained that this particular cross-walk has ever been the scene of several traffic accidents³ (involving both vehicles and pedestrians) because drivers either just came out of that traffic-light controlled four-way or are hoping to make a green light as they approach it.

In this instance, I should submit that as I looked east to check the opposite lane prior to crossing I noticed that the traffic lamp at the intersection was a solid red. Of course, the particular driver of note may have just egressed the other traffic-light controlled five-way intersection three blocks to the west and so was in no particular mood to yield never mind exercise his left foot on the brake pedal — yet again.

This time around I managed a slight hum, an imperceptible shrug, and shuffled homewards.

Years back I might have even surmised that this particular driver might have been singularly distracted — perhaps he was conversing hands-free on his cell phone? — and didn’t even see me waiting to cross.

I figured this time, “meh!”

My point? None really, save possibly making an unmindful blog entry. It was just another day in the city as a pedestrian. Do be careful out there.

1. I’m not into cars — literally and figuratively — I so I didn’t note the make or model … even if I was remotely qualified or knowledgeable to do so ↑

2. I also remember 6 summers ago walking a couple of blocks east, in the late morning during a week-day, hearing a revving behind me. I looked in time to see a vehicle speeding up to cross the intersection I’d just finished crossing. The light — for him — was a fresh but solid red. The blur of red car heading east reminded me of the epic car chases in 1960s and 1970s movies and television. This driver didn’t catch air but he was “flying!” The driver was clearly in some maniacal hurry to make his appointment with the traffic light at the next intersection a mere one and a half block further east. ↑

3. Earlier in the week past I had just crossed the same cross-walk and was about six metres north of it when I heard a loud crash. It was definitely metallic. I glanced back over my right shoulder and sure enough a vehicular collision. ↑