Christian Guthrie

CNMS Major

Over the past few years, there has been a shift in the culture in the Portland area. It is a new, more chaotic method of how the fair citizens traverse the streets of the city. Crosswalks have become decorations. Pedestrians have been walking freely across traffic with no inkling that their lives could end in a second. This is a Public Safety Announcement: Look both ways before crossing the street, use crosswalks, and most importantly, utilize the pedestrian signal buttons. Otherwise, Darwinism will put its almighty foot down.

The Old Port area and the Southern Maine Community College campus have been the major contributions to this new, and increasing, trend in crossing the road. One week ago, a bicyclist decided to throw caution to the wind and pass the intersection. Little did he take into account that a driver was turning a corner, after almost ramming into him, his only notion was to say, “Sorry.” He had not used the crosswalk, or pushed the pedestrian signal button to stop the flow of traffic. In most cases, the bicyclist would have had the right of way. But because he decided to just speed into oncoming traffic without even attempting to stop, he is in the wrong.

Instead of looking at looking at your phones, next time take a second, push the button for the pedestrian signal, and wait for the red hand icon to turn into a person. Believe it or not, there are more people in this world than you, and death is permanent. Just look both ways before crossing.