Unsafe Behavior Around Town

I safely walked to my car after indulging in some sweet treats at this evening, but the man getting into the car next to me was nearly hit in the crosswalk as he left the store. A navy blue car brushed against him and continued on without so much as slowing down to check on him. He was lucky to only be brushed but what if it has been a few seconds later or earlier? He was visibly rattled.

This is just one of many incidences I have personally witnessed and my concern over the basic safety of our children and neighbors is growing.

Here are a few things that I have witnessed:

• Half a dozen boys on trick bikes (you know, the 20" bikes like the ones used in the X games) came racing out behind the , zipping across Primrose to the alley across from it, without so much as a glance. The sun was beginning to set, the kids had on no helmets and of course, they were wearing black. Three of us adults screamed at them while cars stopped abruptly. The kids got away unscathed, miraculously.

• A young man on Foothill Blvd. attempting to walk his bike across at the crosswalk by waited patiently for the afternoon race to slow and notice he was there. A young lady headed East finally stopped, then a man headed West stopped, leaving the inner lanes open. The young man started to cross and just as he took one step into the open space, a young woman came racing through, past stopped cars. One more step and he would have been hit.

• A few years ago, my son and I were nearly to the middle of the street in the crosswalk, at the North end of on Primrose. It was broad daylight and a white Ford Explorer with a mother at the wheel and child in the passenger seat appeared and came barreling up the street, passed within about 18" of us. I watched her as she turned into the parking lot. When I got to the lot she was conveniently parked in front of the laundry mat. Being a woman of action I walked up and knocked on her window, she sweetly asked, "May I help you?" I replied, "Yes, you can. Do you realize you nearly ran my son and me down in the crosswalk?" Without a blink she said, "That wasn't me." You can imagine my disgust. I responded, "How would you know it wasn't you if you didn't do it? I cannot believe you would lie straight to my face in front of your daughter. What kind of example are you setting? Do you realize you could have killed us both and you are lying?" She rolled up her window. (I hope she is reading this and hasn't driven through a crosswalk like that, since.)

What about the kids who zip out in front of us on scooters or skateboards? We've all seen them. No helmets, dark clothings and no respect that a 3000 lb. car can destroy a human body. But, what about the driver of the 3000 lb. automobile who is in such a hurry he or she cannot stop and let someone cross? How about hanging up the cell phone and pay attention to the kids in the crosswalk?

Basic safety while walking or riding a bike/scooter/skateboard is a matter of common sense. Wear a helmet and light colored clothing. Cross at stop signs or lights. Right?

The kicker here, folks, is cars. It's basic manners. It's concern for someone other than one's self. You really won't arrive any later if you stop to let someone cross the street. This is Monrovia! People here are mostly very, very nice. So why not show it in the way we drive? Would it have been so hard for the driver of the navy blue car to stop and ask that man if he was OK?