Day and night, carry your “pedestrian walking permit”

The unwelcome series of before-and-after daylight pedestrian accidents this week reminds us that crossing the street is a learned skill. Sadly, too many pedestrians embark on this tricky passage without thinking it through. Safety experts say walkers — young and old alike — should train themselves to think about just how they are going to get from one side to the other in one piece. Such a plan is proof we’re carrying our “pedestrian walking permit”. Those who cross friendly Bayview Ave. in mid-block have only two lanes to navigate. A judicious use of stopped traffic when the lights are red pretty much guarantees a safe crossing.

LIVE TO SEE THE SPRING

But this is the point no matter where you are. One can’t just bounce off the sidewalk in the expectation that there will be enough time to get to the other side. This can be fatally true on four lane streets like Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton where cars can enter the street unexpectedly at a corner and leave a pedestrian stranded in the middle. Make a plan and judge your crossing time against the amount and speed of traffic. Live to see the Spring, okay?