The Martinez Family Webpage

In an attempt to let some creative juices flow, I am going to start ranting again.

What is a rant?

Google defines it as:

1. harangue: a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
2. talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
3. bombast: pompous or pretentious talk or writing

So here it is a loud, bombastic, noisy, excited, pompous, pretentious tirade about Pedestrians.

But first another definition:

1. a person who travels by foot
2. lacking wit or imagination; “a pedestrian movie plot”

Let me make it clear her that I am speaking about #1 not necessarily #2, though the two definitions may be used interchangeably in this case.

I, like a lot of people in this United States of America, drive to work. The vehicle which I use is irrelevant, though I get a little more irritated if I am on my motorcycle, as slamming on my brakes is a little more hazardous when I am not wrapped up in metal.

Pedestrians, like a lot of people in this United States of America, walk to work. There are many, if not the majority, pedestrians that I have no issue with. These are the peds that:

1. Wait on sidewalk for eye contact from driver before walking out into the middle of the road.
2. Hustle, across the road.
3. Have the courtesy to maybe throw a quick wave in sign of appreciation to the driver (though this is not obligatory).

These people I have no issue with, and am, in fact, happy to wait for them to cross the road. I know I fall into that category, and am greatly appreciative when someone stops for me.

There are some points here to grab from the previous list.

Wait on sidewalk for eye contact from driver before walking out into the middle of the road.

Don’t come walking into the middle of a road (in or out of a crosswalk). Please. This is COMMON SENSE. Not every driver is going to see you. Said driver could be jaw jacking on the phone, talking to her boyfriend/husband, not paying attention, putting makeup on, trying to figure out “which funny pedal is the brake”, any number of things. It irritates me that these pedestrians (definition 2) take it on blind faith vehicles will stop for them.

Hustle, across the road.

This is probably the big one for me. If you don’t wanna follow the advice of the last paragraph and would rather get slapped around like a beach ball in a seal pen, please be my guest.

pedestrian

However, it is pretentious to think you may take your sweet time meandering across the road. In or out of a crosswalk. You don’t have to run, you definitely don’t have to sprint, but at least make a show of you attempting to hustle. If you are walking with a friend/acquaintance/significant other/etc, don’t have a conversation rife with exaggerated manipulations of your hands/facial features/body, you are not impressing me that you know how to speak. Though to be honest, the fact you lived long enough to put one foot in front of the other is quite amazing in and of itself. I guess I should be amazed you can speak. Point is, just get across the road, quickly.

Have the courtesy to maybe throw a quick wave in sign of appreciation to the driver (though this is not obligatory).

It is stated here that a wave is not obligatory. It is nice though. I will always throw a wave back at ya’ and it brightens my day a little.

Thanks for listening.