Our local newspaper just completed this big report on how dangerous drivers and cyclists are to pedestrians. It’s a continuing saga worldwide as cities and governments everywhere try to force drivers, cyclists and even pedestrians to slow down and follow rules. It’s freaking me out.
The lead story here was “Cars vs bikes vs pedestrians. Why can’t we all get along?” Here is the response I sent to the editor.
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The question should be – “Why can’t we remain individuals and still get along?”
On a recent trip to Toronto, I was walking along busy Bloor Street noticing how the pedestrian sidewalk traffic was like any Ontario street. No passing, no changing lanes, no attention to anyone around you. Just follow the person in front of you and do what they do.
My efforts to walk around slower walkers, was treated with immediate surprise and disdain. As I walked into the street to find some room to move, or cross to the less busy other side of the street, cars screeched to halt and drivers honked and yelled. My goodness, I’ve grown up in Montreal and can easily negotiate myself across a busy street without putting myself or anyone else at risk.
This recent review and discussion of street behavior brings to a head the real problem in our society. We are being forced to be the same. Drivers, cyclists, pedestrians must all follow the rules of the slowest, least motivated, most unsure and fearful lambs in front of us. We must watch the same televisions shows, eat the same food and do the same things.
Marketers and government would find it a lot easier to appeal to a single trained populace – one without differing needs and attitudes. But what society must do is learn to respect the individual rights of all. And so, like with many other rights that have a potential to endanger ourselves or others, there are regulations. And these regulations should be based on testing to determine ability. Our driving or cycling tests should determine such things as who can drive at night, beyond what speeds and in which lanes. You think you can talk on a cell phone and still pay attention? Prove it. Think you can negotiate your bike through a busy pedestrian intersection. Prove it. Think you can drive in ridiculous rush traffic hour without getting excited? Prove it.
No this isn’t crazy. Our licenses currently indicate what vehicles we can drive or if we have to wear corrective eyewear. So drivers and cyclists will just have another indicator - an A, B or C license. We all have had to pass tests to prove where and when we can do those things we may think we are capable of doing.
It’s time to stand up for individual rights, or we will all end up as bunch of robots, programmed to the lowest common denominator.
David Berman
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