Intersect.

The intersection, (if you can call it that) on Alameda where Monroe and Cipriani beg for acceptance, is a nightmare. Most cars on the top of Alameda going south hardly even ‘California Roll.’ It’s more of a slow-down-pause-and pretend there’s no such things as peripheral vision, full steam ahead. While the Cipriani and Monroe cars play a game of Frogger and pray a quick little nose dive out might hop them across unscathed.

The Hillman/Notre Dame/Pine Knoll/Winding Way cluster is a cup full’o’craziness with a cute little green paint pad basically saying “folks, we have no clue what to do here either, sit on this patch-a-grass for awhile to figure it out, and please, try not to kill anyone.” People seem to take it slowly and are more apt to wave a hand and let others pass along safely. I wonder how those roads evolved as such? Maybe it was sliced and diced when The Vans was towed up the hill and the paths just kept moving around in funny directions? I’m sure it was fun ‘back in the day’ on horses and will be, too, when we fly around in Jetson’s spacesuits one day.

One thing that really bugs me, especially during heavy commute hours from Marine Parkway all the way up Ralston, is when sneaky cars turn right on red as ‘rule following cars’ await an opening large enough to move safely through the intersection (while their light is still green). Put yourself in the driver’s seat of the other car. Sitting, waiting, needing to get home or to work or to school…. or holding a very full bladder while some car thinks it’s clever to whip up the back road and take your spot. Just cost (me) five minutes and maybe a change of pants (speaking from experience).

Lastly, a sincere applause for those dear people trying to safely cross at pedestrian walkways. Bless you for walking, and for trying. This surely isn’t Manhattan but some days it feels like it. I’ve seen people run and scream, baby and groceries in hand, trying to cross Ralston. I’ve screeched to a halt at least once and now I’m über paranoid. And those beep, beep, beeping pedestrian signals are purposeful, helpful but also confusing and a little terrifying (at least to me). Admittedly I’ve missed my turn before and had to wait it out another three-four minutes because I was too freaked out about crossing with the kids, dog and stroller with all the beeping going on. Eventually I got the courage and timing down just right, and crossed. And, now I’m all the wiser (I hope).

Anyway, please be careful out there and remember we’re all living in this little village of Belmont we like to call home.