Sunday, February 28, 2010
What I noticed about a different culture
Having traveled a lot through-out my life, I have noticed that other cultures are a lot more respectful to pedestrians then we are here in America, or New York for sure. In places such as Aruba, Mexico, Israel and several other places, I noticed that drivers let through anyone crossing the street even if the pedestrian is crossing at the wrong time or in the middle of the block. Everyone always stops and patiently waits. Here in New York particularly, everyone is in such a rush and doesn't care for others. Drivers haveeee to be first, and often don't even let people pass, especially cabs! We might be so used to this that we don't even pay attention, but once you are in a place where they are so nice to pedestrian's you really start to notice. It's nice to have drivers stop and wait for you to cross without honking the horn. It's really nice!!!
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I agree and think that it is aweful that drivers in NYC do not respect pedestrians and other people crossing. It is the NYC "Rush" that makes everybody so tense and anxious to get to work. I do not think it is like that all over the states, but i definitely understand what you mean. Even when one drives in NYC, if one doesnt drive crazier than the cabs, the driver would get cut-off by every cab passing. My motto is "in NYC you MUST be aggressive to get to your destination" OR ELSE
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think it is that bad with drivers and pedestrians in NYC. I think it is more so with drivers and other drivers (lots of road rage there!). I haven't been to any of the places you mentioned though so it is hard to make comparisons. However, I can tell you in China, they never stop for you! The traffic light system there is confusing and you pretty much have to try to have no fear and run through every single time.
ReplyDeleteHaving been driving for so long, I'm so used to hating pedestrians jay walking and crossing without the right of way that I think it's totally okay for drivers to honk at them! Personally, I try not to come in the way of cars whenever I walk because I know how the person in the driver seat feels.
ReplyDeleteRenata, it is nice to see how you picked something unique and so important to us New Yorkers. The only thing to possibly add is that there may not be another city out there with the amount of volume of cars/pedestrians on the street as New York. Everyone is truly in a rush, as is the taxi driver to pick up a quick buck. I am sure the amount of streetlights and bicyclists just make drivers go overboard.
ReplyDeleteNo one likes cabs! There are certainly a lot of aggressive drivers in NY, but the real machines you have to watch out for are bicycles. I have noticed, by being almost clipped by several cyclists, that these people really have either no respect or cannot ride a bike properly. I think that the sheer amount of traffic, meaning cars and pedestrians, makes one numb to the feeling that there is another person there and just makes a person feel, "oh there is another thing slowing me down!". So, it is easy to lose a sense that we as human beings should always be courteous to one another.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same about American traffic behavior until I visited other states and towns in the U.S., and I have to say, I think it is a quality indigenous to New York (and perhaps other major cities). New Englanders seem to be especially mindful of pedestrians (in my experience). I've been to New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut and on a number of ski trips, and the cars up there come to a complete stop every time a pedestrian thinks about crossing...even if it's in the middle of the street.
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