Op-Ed Against Slow Street Walkers

Here’s an editorial I did for class from a driver’s perspective about pedestrians and crossing the street.

To pass or not pass, that is the question

 

Though cross walks are indeed made for walking, sometimes it is in the best interest of walkers to wait until the coast is clear instead of making the coast clear themselves. Construction work at The University of Scranton has made driving almost unbearable for any student or faculty heading toward the insurmountable task of finding a decent parking spot. While contending with the hustle and bustle of heavy Scrantonian traffic, drivers must also deal with the obstacle of students chaotically trying to cross the street in time to make it to their classes.

Students, just because state law says that pedestrians have the right away does not mean you can run in front of moving traffic and expect not to get hit. This presents both a danger to you and the drivers behind the wheel. Like you, drivers may also be running late to class, jobs or other obligations and do not have time to let a flock of students cross their path. Because once you let one student cross the street, several others soon take the opportunity to follow, causing traffic to move at a funeral-like pace. Now an entire line of drivers are a little less on time, all because of an act of common courtesy.

Does this mean that we as drivers should not let those wishing to cross the street an opportunity to pass? Absolutely not. There is a time and place when letting a pedestrian cross is perfectly acceptable. However, pedestrians should also keep in mind the drivers who made be running behind and not have the chance to let anyone pass. This means that if you are lucky enough to be allowed to cross, please do not lollygag while doing so. We don’t have the time to wait while you stroll to class.

So how can this problem be addressed? Traffic lights will almost always allow students an opportunity to cross the street if they are patient enough. If traffic light roulette becomes too risky, students and pedestrians can give themselves five extra minutes of street crossing time to make their morning commute to class or work easier, not only for themselves but those in the driver’s seat as well. Changes can be made in our routines to attempt to eliminate lateness, however it can sometimes not be avoided. In such cases, walkers and drivers alike should recognize when a person is late and should use courtesy to allow them to pass. That is of course if they have the time to allow it.