New York City, Los Angeles, London, Rome, take your pick, crossing streets in these cities takes guts. But no guts, no glory my dad always said. In these cities walkers wait until the traffic clears to cross the street. If that happens to be on the walk sign, all the better. But stepping out against the signal is expected and everyone learns to be quick. If you've been in New York City you've no doubt seen what appear to be frail grannies come to life to race across the street. In London, city planners are so nice they put arrows on the street telling visitors which way to look. Didn't matter, I still looked the wrong way. But I also crossed against the light if no traffic was visible. Everyone does it. We're in a hurry, we can't wait for interminable traffic lights if there's a break in the action.
Well, not everyone. In Germany, Switzerland, and Austria one most certainly does not cross until the light turns green. We had the advantage of a guide who lived for 10 years in Bavarian Germany and warned us of the costly ticket involved in crossing against the light. I have to say I didn't really believe it but it's true. In these countries pedestrians do not cross until the light says so. No matter how anti-establishment some appear to be with ripped stockings, piercings, and tattoos, they all wait for the light no matter how long it takes. Sometimes it takes a LONG time. But we wait dammit!
In addition, bicycles have the right of way in Germany so watch out for bikes in market squares, in small alleys or anywhere at all. A cyclist hit and injured our guide, Tara, when she lived in Germany and it was basically her fault for not being careful enough. And there are loads of bicycles everywhere. They're speeding around corners, cruising through town, and tethered to any light post. The heaps of bikes chained up to light posts were amazing. They would lay there like the dead, just dumped one on top of the other. I wondered if at one time they were all standing up alertly waiting for their rider or if said rider just threw down the bike on the pile and attached a lock. And how would you get your bike out if it was on the bottom of the tangle? It's a mystery. It takes some vigilance to avoid bikes in Germany 'cause they're not looking out for you.
As a Californian who assumes that the minute I leave my car and start walking I'm in the right, it pays to find about local customs. If you have no guide, take your cues from all those people standing patiently on the sidewalk while an empty street begs to be crossed, wait for the light!
MANY years ago when I was in Paris they told me that, unlike the US, pedestrians do not have the right of way. I quickly learned that Parisians cross against the light all the time and that, contrary to what I'd been told, drivers don't run them over. So I picked up the habit. When in Rome...
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