General Road and Highway Discussion

[MidTowner]

"I suspect the reason is simply one of our cultural things. When that ped light goes on, peds walk, no thinking."

I think this is a bit of a disrespectful way to put it. I don't think it's possible to get around in a city in Ontario obeying signals without thinking and also without being struck by a car. You're also ignoring the experiences people have at four-way stops and the like, where they may have the right-of-way but it's not largely respected by motorists.

At a roundabout on foot, motorists are supposed to yield to you. Does that happen? I wouldn't count on it. So you're right that there's a lot of thinking involved, and it's life-or-death thinking, so of course it's uncomfortable.