I Stop For Pedestrians?

I had to smile when I pulled up behind the car with the bumper sticker that read “I stop for pedestrians.”  This is an urban area – and that is just what we should be doing.  What happened next, however, was appalling.  As we sat at the corner of Oakland Avenue and Capitol Drive the left turn arrow appeared.  “I stop for pedestrians” advanced into the intersection, and I followed.  But then, as we neared the crosswalk, she slammed on the brakes.  I honked, and when she did not move, honked again.  The light changed from green to yellow and there we sat.  And then I realized what was happening.  On the corner of the street there was a young man, waiting for his turn to cross.  That’s right, he was waiting.  He appeared well aware of the fact that the red man displayed on the street light meant it was not safe for him to cross.  But “I stop for pedestrians” was beckoning him out into traffic, to cross against a red.  Thankfully, the young man refused to cross, and finally, we proceeded through the intersection.

This is in fact the second time in the last month that I have witnessed a driver encouraging a young person to step out into traffic when they did not have the right away.  Ironically, both events occurred at the same intersection. I am not sure if these are people who think they being kind, or worse, people who somehow gained a driver’s license without having an actual understanding of how traffic lights operate. 

 As a mother of 2 young girls, I am writing this letter with a plea.  Please, continue to stop for pedestrians who are crossing the street (even if they don’t have the right away).  Please continue to stop at both marked and unmarked crosswalks.  But please, do not encourage our young people who are being taught to follow the pedestrian signals  to venture out  into one of the busiest intersections in Shorewood against a stop signal.  You are not doing them any favors and if the unthinkable happens, they would be considered partially to blame in the eyes of the law as they were breaking the law.