The Sneering and Inappropriate Question: "Was She In The Crosswalk?"

When I see news a pedestrian crossing the street was struck and killed by a car in Stamford, my first reaction shouldn't be 'I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often' - but it is. 

Just like the first question when something like this happens shouldn't be "Was she in the crosswalk?" - but for a lot of people, it is. 

In the context of learning more about the accident, I have no problem with that question. But the question often takes That Tone - one used to assign blame in the next statement.  It is as if the person just can't wait to shrug and say "Well, there you go!" if you were to respond that the person was not in the crosswalk. 

Asking that question in That Tone also implies that if a person isn't in the crosswalk, that person is where a person should not be. That person is where a car should be. The street is for cars. Crosswalks are for people. End of story. 

It's a smug, dangerous and grossly outdated way to think for several reasons. First off, a crosswalk doesn't guarantee one's safety. If you doubt me, try crossing Cold Spring walking north on Long Ridge Road sometime. See if the crosswalk gods smile on you as cars are turning right in front of you faster than Sandra Bullock turned that bus in 'Speed.' 

Not only that, but some parts of this city have places where crosswalks are missing entirely even though sidewalks, strangely, lead up to them. The photo accompanying this post of a woman and a small boy heading crossing a street is one such Stamford intersection - and the entire city should be embarrassed it exists. 

Secondly, cars are in places where cars should not be all the time. Parked in a bike lane. Blocking the box. Running a red light. Spending a lot more than five minutes at the Metro North station waiting to pick up a late train traveler. And there isn't a "was she in the crosswalk?" opening equivalent for drivers if a motor vehicle hits another. Not only that, but if a 130 pound human comes into contact with a 4,500 pound SUV, the consequences are, to say the least, unbalanced. 

Thirdly - and the recently-passed Vulnerable User Law helps support this - cars are only one entity on the road. Walkers and cyclists have just as much right to use them as any motor vehicle operator. The only reason this may anger some motorists is because they haven't seen the bigger picture yet: if motor vehicle lanes are made a little narrower to allow bike lanes and good sidewalks to be put in more people will bike and walk. Those cyclists and pedestrians won't appear out of nowhere: they'll be leaving their cars at home, and that means motorists will have fewer vehicles in front of theirs at each red light. 

I know the Hoyt Street and Summer Street intersection well. When I worked in Bulls Head I'd pedal past it each time I rode home. I even biked by it (separately) with David Martin, Michael Fedele and William Tong a few months before the 2013 election to show how much better the city would work if it accommodated bicycle users more. 

In the year since then, I can say for sure the city is moving in the right direction - but much too slowly. As we work to speed it up by urging the city to adopt a complete streets policy, let's avoid assigning blame and take more ownership over safety. If you're a motorist, drive slower and don't use your phone. If you're a pedestrian, look both ways before you cross. if you're a cyclist, follow the rules of the road. 

And above all: drop That Tone. It's everyone's road. Let's not let any more of our neighbors die on it. 

Mike Norris is the founder of DIYBIKING.COM, a site dedicated to casual cycling, random builds, and bike travel. He is a member of the Connecticut Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board and owns one 3,300 lb. SUV and 16 3/4 bicycles. He lives and works in Stamford and can be reached at connecticutmike@gmail.com