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We could use a few extra tweets

Editor: Someone at city hall decided a crosswalk that tweets makes an excellent ‘Walk’ signal, but they added a challenge to go with it
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Pedestrians need more tools than just audible signals to cross the street safely

Editor:

Someone at city hall decided a crosswalk that tweets makes an excellent ‘Walk’ signal, but they added a challenge to go with it. See if you can make it across the street before the light changes. If not successful, said tweeting turns into an ambulance siren.

Me running is not going to happen. Ten years ago, maybe… I have managed to make it three-quarters of the way – once; usually it’s half way.

Today, a driver, wanting to turn, slowly crept up to and over the white line, apparently thinking the turn signal blinking on the car was not sufficient incentive for me to move faster, so an implied threat was called for.

We now have a stand-off – me staring down the driver while aiming for the curb and the driver intent on my progress, inching forward. The prize was in sight.

I raised my foot to plant it on the curb but cringed in mid-step when the sound of squealing tires announced the car was fish-tailing through the crosswalk behind me narrowly missing my tail feathers.

I’m thinkin’ we could use a few extra tweets.

I suppose I could carry a placard reminding drivers that pedestrians have the right of way.

Another option – and one I personally favour – is perhaps invest in one of those tire shredders the police throw across the road to stop the bad guys and just drag it behind me while attempting to cross our streets.

Suzanne Gerard, White Rock