r/AstoriaStreetActivism

Many of us, here, recognize, and have previously discussed, how rampant and ingrained 'car-brain' is among a certain segment of Astorians. I think what also foments this mentality is the fact that so many drivers have little to no experience as a pedestrian...and in a neighborhood such as Astoria. So many drivers literally drive Everywhere, always reaching for those keys.

Many drivers have no clue what it feels like to be a pedestrian - much less a short-statured and/or elderly and/or very young and/or wheelchair-bound one - crossing the street IN the crosswalk, WITH the Walk light, and to have the operators of 2-Ton Machines speeding thru turns (often times, intentionally hitting the gas in order to 'BEAT' pedestrians thru the crosswalk).... or when drivers literally Inch Up to us with their deadly machines (essentially telling us to 'hurry the hell up, before I hit you').

Today I was In the crosswalk, with the Walk light, and the driver of a turning vehicle was coming at me, too fast for my comfort. So I put out a hand as if to say 'um, you need to slow down...' Well, would you believe the driver had the audacity to cackle after me 'What, do you think I didn't SEE you??', as if pedestrians are never hit in the crosswalk, and in the full light of day??

So basically, this driver was so irritated that I indicated that they needed to slow down, that they felt the need to yell at me. They didn't stop to consider 'Gee, maybe I WAS taking that turn a bit too fast....' or 'apparently I made that vulnerable flesh and blood pedestrian nervous, as they saw my massive SUV coming at them...' Noooo.... instead, they felt imperious, that a pedestrian dared to suggest they were driving in a threatening manner.

I wonder how these same drivers would feel if another driver behaved that same way to one of their own family members, while they were in the crosswalk....