By MRBIKESABUNCH
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\nLately, there\u2019s been a barrage of messaging from various agencies, whether they be in Ontario or beyond, taking aim at the behaviours of people walking and cycling. From messages about wearing bright, reflective clothing to talking about the (invented) scourge of distracted walking to asking pedestrians to remove their earbuds while walking, much of the focus of these messages are on the behaviours of people walking.
\nNow let\u2019s be clear \u2013 people do have a responsibility to look out for their own safety. I don\u2019t advocate wearing headphones, blaring loud music while playing Candy Crush on your phone and walking out into free-flowing traffic. But to continuously shift the onus onto people walking by demonizing the very things that make walking so enjoyable \u2013 listening to music, staring up at the buildings, enjoying conversations and the sights and sounds of your environment, the ability to simply get up and go without needing to strap on lights, reflective safety vests and protective helmets, belies the fact that the vast majority of injuries to people walking occur because the person driving didn\u2019t obey the law. They most often failed to yield the right of way at an intersection, although there are lots of other causes as well.
\nOne of the worst examples of this culture of victim-blaming I\u2019ve seen to date came, unfortunately, from Peel Regional Police. During their \u201cPedestrian Safety Week\u201c, Peel Police offer such gems of advice like \u201cDon\u2019t rely solely on traffic signals or stop signs. Ensure that it is safe to cross the road before crossing\u201d. At the end of their list of advice, which includes the usual \u201cwear reflective clothing\u201d, \u201ccross at crosswalks\u201d and other helpful tips, they offer one last piece of counsel, just in case there was any remaining doubt that their campaign has little interest in tackling the root cause of injuries to people walking \u2013 dangerous behaviours by people driving.
\nLet that sink in for a second. Rather than running a campaign to encourage people driving to drive more attentively, to be extra careful of people walking and to always, as a default, yield the right of way to a more vulnerable road user, the police emphasize that, as someone who is not encased in a metal box, you need to be extra vigilant to protect yourself against those who would break the law and fail to yield the right of way, potentially endangering your life.
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