Teach your children … better

When I saw the woman trying to cross the street ten feet away from a marked crosswalk this morning, I was annoyed, but not surprised.

This happens ALL THE TIME, I thought to myself. The city just re-did a major thoroughfare in my neighborhood, complete with protected bike lanes, curb extensions, and crosswalks with lights.

I still see people crossing ten feet from the crosswalk. Yesterday, a dude weaved through traffic in front of me just a few cars away from a very busy intersection. While holding a tiny dog! Think of your dogs, people!

While I was thinking about this, feeling very self-righteous and wondering how the heck you teach people to use the infrastructure you’re building for them, a middle schooler zipped across the street in front of me. He looked back, and there was an adult man in a car, smiling and waving.

An adult man, sitting in traffic on the busy street. Who could have pulled over to the side street and dropped this kid off safely, but instead just had him jump out at a red light and cross wherever.

So that’s where the kids are learning it, I guess.

Not a helpful detail

I’m meeting some for the first time to talk about pro bono gig/volunteer opportunity. When I get to the busy coffee shop and get settled, I send her a quick email: Hi, I’m here! I’m wearing a striped shirt and sitting by the wall.

A few minutes later, a woman walks up, and asks the woman next to me, “Are you Kelley?”

She was wearing a striped shirt, too.

It’s the little/gigantic things

I’ve been walking more lately, for transportation. Trying to cut down on my single-passenger trips and fossil fuel consumption. You know the drill.

I didn’t have a car until I got married at 25, so I used to walk a lot. I’m remembering how much more city life you experience when you’re on foot, for better or worse.

On my way to a friend’s birthday party:

  • I fumbled change at the bus stop, and a gentleman offered me a bus pass
  • An old friend hollered out the window at me as she drove by
  • Two women walking in front of me stopped short, which confused me, until I saw that the men in front of us were working together to hold a huge snake

I never would’ve seen the snake out a car window. I’m nearsighted anyway.