I could describe countless stories of motorists I’ve seen doing very dangerous things as they maneuver around the streets of the city. Not just rude, but dangerous. I could describe just as many stories of pedestrians or bicyclists behaving without caution as they go to and fro, putting themselves and others at risk.

But, just yesterday afternoon about 4 pm, I headed to a friend’s house at NE Halsey and 45th Ave. As I crossed the side street, I noted a woman with a cast on her foot attempting to cross Halsey. One car had stopped and she tentatively made her way across the street, obviously aware that not everyone knew about the new law, Stop and Stay Stopped for pedestrians.

I slowed down to watch, worried for her safety. Just when she was into the second lane, a mini-van made a half-hearted attempt to slow to allow her through, and as it went by the driver honked his horn for several moments. Angry and disgusted, he waved at her as if she were in his way.

We have a new law but there are so many who have not heard of it. But, even if we didn’t have a new law, there is a problem here. Here’s a person who was clearly not able to move quickly, she was crossing at a busy time of day and she needed time to cross safely.

Why are we in such a hurry? Why do we rush to every single thing we do? Why don’t we treat every person as if they could be our loved one? Why do we act as though nothing else matters but our own agenda?

The woman made it to safety and I commiserated with her about the problem. But, I’m worried about our human species, very worried.

by Kim Cottrell

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Editor’s notes:

• The Willamette Pedestrian Coalition was instrumental in passing the Stop and Stay Stopped law under Senate Bill 315 in 2003.
• In July 2005, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 591, amending the Stop and Stay Stopped law (PDF here).
• Here is the ODOT press release on the new law.