Pedestrians: remember when your parents taught you how to cross the street? Stop. Look both ways. Listen.
Note the order on that, when you come to a road stop first, look to see if any cars are coming, then listen for anything that might be coming that you didn’t notice at first.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen pedestrians come to a crosswalk and without hesitation blow through the street on their phone or listening to their iPod.
I know you have the right of way, but if a car hits you it’ll still hurt.
Cyclists: two things. First, you know those things in front of you when you ride, they’re called handlebars, use them.
I don’t care if your hands are cold, they should not be in your pockets.
You wouldn’t drive without a steering wheel, don’t ride without using your handlebars.
Second, when riding after dark use lights, if you don’t, you’re breaking the law.
Motorists: you know those red octagons you keep seeing in the streets? They’re called stop signs — you’re supposed to stop at them, even if you think there is no one coming.
By stop, I mean really stop — none of this rolling stop action.
Also, when turning right at a red light stop, look for pedestrians and oncoming traffic then, and only then, go.
Just last week I saw a car hit someone crossing the street because the driver didn’t stop when turning right on red.
I’ve seen far too many accidents around campus this semester — cyclists are hitting pedestrians, cars are hitting pedestrians, pedestrians are running in front of cars and bikes.
It needs to stop.
David Pearson
Casa Grande, Ariz.
