We are stopped on Cambie at Broadway, heading south. A pedestrian just reaches the middle of the road when his Walk signal stops flashing. The little red stick figure is frozen red. But the man hurries past the first lane and the middle lane (mine), while we all stare patiently at our green light. Meanwhile, a car is barrelling down the third lane (next to the curb); he sees green too, and his lane is clear, so he's gunning it, just as the pedestrian enters that lane.
I doubt the driver even touches the brakes as he swerves around the pedestrian and motors through the intersection and up the hill while the rest of us are catching our breath(s). The pedestrian doesn't break stride either. His upper body spins completely around with his arms in the air like a giant V. Human Tilt-A-Whirl.
Whenever this happens, I wonder what role by-standers have in close calls. Am I responsible for these near misses? I see so many of them – it's a wonder nobody gets hurt. Although I've yet to see a casualty, the pedestrian we just saw cross the street is now clutching his chest, staggering across the sidewalk and lunging for the building.
I could have feigned a move into the right lane, forcing the speed demon to lay off the gas pedal so he wouldn't flatten a guy. But I didn't do anything. I let things unfold as they would.
Later someone said, “Hm, you must be a guardian angel. You're not causing accidents. You're preventing them.”
Isn't it amazing what simply being present can accomplish?
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