There seems to be a new sport out there: how close can a driver get to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, as the driver swerves around the corner, especially in Newtonville Square at Austin and Walnut Streets? No matter that at least one person in the last 3 years has been killed (right across from the Newton Senior Citizen Center) while crossing in a crosswalk. Or that you, the pedestrian, might have taken the time to look both ways before you use the crosswalk to get to the other side of the street. (You may never make it from the Newtonville Train Station to the Newtonville Starbucks for that morning coffee!) Even when you follow the car that just missed you by a cat's whisker (sorry, I've still got cats on my mind from yesterday's post) and calmly and rationally talk to the driver in an effort to reach some kind of understanding, there is little hope...
Ironically, in Massachusetts, pedestrians have the right of way, but I fear that in Newtonville, Massachusetts, might is right, and if you want to stay alive, never cross in a crosswalk, especially in Newtonville Square.
I think Boston driving is a hair-raising and whitening experience in general. It sounds like Yerevan Armenia with regard to the pedestrians now though. :)
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