Narrow Escape

[Brady Moffatt]

Having lived my whole life here in Montreal, I pity visiting pedestrians and
to a certain extent visiting drivers. When I first learned to walk, I was
taught that traffic lights, crosswalks and stop signs were nice colourful
things that sometimes flashed or changed colours. I was also taught not to
put too much faith in them. Cross the street when there are no cars coming
that can hit you. Lights, crosswalks, intersections, and everything else are
very secondary. It works very well here, as (most) local drivers and
pedestrians have an understanding. Throw in drivers and walkers not aware of
this understanding, and you end up with a walker getting clipped at a
crosswalk. They're useless here unless there is a crossing guard.

Basically, I'm suggesting that the law is secondary to survival and common
sense. When it comes to traffic, and especially pedestrians in Montreal,
most people seem to agree.

Cheers,
Brady Moffatt
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
86 4ksq, 282,000km
72 Datsun 240Z, 180,000 miles


----- Original Message -----
From: "Rave Racer" <Ravewar at rogers.com>


>
>     Ya, I'm Pete.  Haha, ya, Montreal is bad for that.  I lived in
Montreal
> for awhile, but I was young and it was before my driving career.  But from
> what I remember, it's alot like Florida, but the main difference is that
in
> Montreal, they're well aware they're hitting you.
>
>        Rave Racer
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: george mills <gamills at ns.sympatico.ca>
>
> You wrote this right Pete? I think you're a Pete anyway. When I lived
> in Montreal about 30 years ago it was an eye opener. Where I came from
> in B.C. drivers generally gave the right-of-way to pedestrians in the
> cross-walk. Not so in Montreal. I was bumped up onto the hoods of a
> couple of taxis before I realized this was a whole new ball game
<snip... nervous baboons>
>I thought, yah, those buggers would do alright in
> Montreal.
>
> Best regards,
> Geo
> >    ok, ok... joking guys, here's my stereotypical one word analysis of
> each
> >of the drivers I have encountered from some of the areas I have driven.
> snippage
>