Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Remembering

Bob Aldrich

On Being a Pedestrian, or Robert's Rules of the Road

As I walked past a Los Gatos shopping center, a pickup truck turned in the driveway at excessive speed, coming very close to me, though probably not the 1 1/2 inches that I imagined. I addressed the driver in language my Sunday school teacher would not have approved.

It is my contention that many drivers, as well as many pedestrians, haven't the faintest idea of proper courtesy. I am well aware that what follows makes me sound like a grumpy old man. This is simply due to the fact that (1) my good intentions are seldom appreciated and (2) I'm a grumpy old man.

I gave up driving a dozen or so years ago and have since been reduced to walking, riding a bike or a bus, or mooching off friends with cars. As a result I tend to see the world from a sidewalk, rather than from a freeway point of view. I see the pedestrian as a second-class citizen, put upon and reviled. I also see many pedestrians as offensive, discourteous ignoramuses, about which more in a moment.

Here, for drivers first, are Robert's Rules of the Road for Treating Pedestrians as Human Beings and Not Only as Obstacles to Progress:

(1) Realize that a pedestrian, while often a nuisance, has no way to defend himself or herself from a 3,000-pound vehicle. He is dependent on his wits, plus a touching faith, sometimes misplaced, that a driver will notice him.

(2) When a pedestrian stands in a crosswalk near the curb, it is likely he wants to cross the street.

(3) Said pedestrian has no way of knowing if a vehicle is going to stop unless the vehicle stops, or at least slows to a crawl.

(4) Turning a corner at too high a speed--as some cars do, for example, at the Town Plaza corner at W. Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue--is risking the chance that pedestrians are stepping into the street to cross with the "walk" sign. It could be too late to brake.

(5) When a driver enters one of those short right-turn lanes between a traffic island and the curb and there is hesitation about who goes first, car or pedestrian, the driver should assume the pedestrian's right-of-way. This does not, of course, excuse a pedestrian who foolishly steps in front of a moving car.

Some pedestrians can be as dumb as some drivers.

(6) When a pedestrian runs across the street in heavy traffic, hit him. No, no, I mean stop for the fool. The pedestrian was probably raised as a permissive child, allowed to do anything he pleased, and so grew up as an adult with very little common sense.

He or she is more to be pitied than collided with.

Now, Robert's Sidewalk Rules for Pedestrians; Or How to Treat Other Pedestrians as Just Possibly Wanting to Get Somewhere:

(1) When walking, adapt the rule that holds sway on streets to foot traffic: Keep to the right of the sidewalk when possible.

(2) When walking with a group, consider that someone behind you may want to pass at a faster pace. Let one or two of the group drop behind so you're not all in line, forcing people to step off the curb to get around this happy group.

(3) Assembly halls and hotel lobbies are for conventions; sidewalks are not. Persons congregating for the purpose of drinking coffee, settling the world's problems or telling jokes should clear a pathway so a pedestrian can pass through without begging for access or rudely shoving.

(4) Dogs may be man's best friend, but a large canine sprawled in the center of the sidewalk is no friend to the pedestrian in a hurry. Of course your dog is friendly, utterly adorable and never bites strangers, but how do I know that? Maybe the pooch thinks my leg is a T-bone steak. People who bring their dogs downtown to show them off--and I can think of no other reason for taking a dog along on a weekend--should have the courtesy to guide the animal to the curb when people are passing. If you must show off Rasputin, take him to a dog show.

(5) Rule 5 is addressed principally to young folk who have a tendency to come bounding out of shop doorways at high speed, in disregard of the possibility someone might be on the sidewalk. The result is many a near-collision. I also consider it rude to step onto a sidewalk from the street and cross directly in front of someone walking. These speedballs are never ever heard to say "excuse me," believing, I guess, that the rest of us shouldn't be there.

(6) Since the rule about not riding bikes on sidewalks is disregarded, bikers should at least go slowly and not approach from behind, zooming past a pedestrian's elbow, silently and without warning, scaring the daylights out of him. There is the chance the pedestrian may move to left or right just before bikers descend on him. At the very least, bikers should give warning. Whatever came of those bells every kid had on his handlebars?

There you have them, Robert's Rules for Erring Drivers and Pedestrians. I look forward to the day when they are engraved in stone and memorized by every schoolchild. Until then, I shall continue to assume a defensive posture whenever I walk out of my front door.

Bob Aldrich, who died on June 14, wrote the 'Our Town' column that ran in this space for 15 years. He also wrote many Op/Ed pieces. For the next few weeks, we are running a few of his most memorable ones.

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