On tuesday I had a job interview at Staples. On my way there, biking my sorry ass through the rain, I was nearly hit by three cars. Not one, or two, but THREE cars. Each one of them had pulled up to an intersection, looked in the OPPOSITE direction, then pulled forward, just as I was crossing. I couldn’t beleive it, and as it happened again, and then again, I began to truly beleive what people kept telling me.
People in Thunder Bay CAN’T DRIVE.
Just yesterday I was biking home from school. THe light up ahead had just turned green, so I was gaining on the cars fast, and would probably pass a few in the intersection. I carefully checked to see if any had their right turn signal on (because nobody ever checks their mirrors), and none of them did, so I assumed it was safe to keep going. Just as I began to pass a white car, it turned into me! I slid along the car, got my feet on the ground, and backed onto the sidewalk at the corner as fast as I could. It was scary, but I was fine, and so was the car. The lady driving didn’t even stop.
At this point the sign still says walk, so as soon as I can put my feet on the peddals I try to cross again. This time a freaking pick-up nearly runs me over! I had the right-of-way, and I was CLEARLY trying to cross (see above for that attempt). WTF? I just don’t know.
Time to start wearing a helmet.
13/10/2006 at 9:28 pm Permalink
Thunder Bay may be bad, but Alberta is the worst. No one stops at stop signs…. Yield signs are a waste of metal and traffic lights are a crap shoot.
Everyone leaves 5 minutes after they are supposed to be at an appointment, so it seems, and it is every person for themselves out here….
BUT….. Cars will see a pedestrian crossing three blocks away and actually give them the right of way…. go figure.