#StreetSmarts: See and Be Seen
We all know New York is the greatest city in the world, but did you ever stop to think about why?
NYC — best place to grow up. Walk, Bike, Train, Bus everywhere > https://t.co/V16OSgsRny
— VisionHero (@Vision_Hero) January 5, 2018
Growing up in NYC gives you more real-world interactions and more independence than living in the suburbs.
Think about it: While your suburban friends are getting shuttled around in cars for school and activities, you’re walking, scooting, biking, or taking the bus or subway.
Fun fact: Having many ways to get around is called multimodal transportation. Here’s more info about multimodal transportation.
Getting around NYC = love. (Giphy)
They’re stuck getting driven while you get to move and groove with the most interesting and diverse collection of people on the planet. It’s a pretty powerful thing.
But remember Spider-Man’s motto:
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Did you know that every hour of every day a teen is hit by a car and killed or injured in the US? https://t.co/kvcxBYC7N9 #walksafely
— Safe Kids Worldwide (@safekids) August 11, 2016
NYC has this crazy awesome idea that if we’re all a bit smarter and more careful on the streets, we can get to the point where no one dies in a crash. It’s called Vision Zero. Now nearly 40 US cities have followed NYC’s lead and are rolling out Vision Zero programs too.
Here’s how to be a VisionHero for Vision Zero, and how to see and be seen out there on the streets.
City life is fascinating–and distracting
Life moves pretty fast in the city. If you don’t stop and look around, you could regret it. (Giphy)
It may only take you a few minutes to get from point A to point B, but a lot can happen if you’re not paying attention. Help avoid a crash by looking around (“seeing”), and if you can, take some steps to help others see you, too. Things you do all day without even thinking are not exactly safe when crossing walking, boarding, or biking the street.
Part of being savvy in the city is being smart about the world around you. The city is distracting, and some distractions can be dangerous. And not just dangerous–deadly. You don’t need to be scared, but don’t be stupid either.
Walking and texting
Just because so many people do it, that doesn’t make it a good idea. (Matthew Kenwrick / Flickr)
You’ve probably heard that texting and driving is bad. Well, as a young New Yorker texting and walking is not such a great idea either.
Walking is healthy, but stay safe! Don't chat, text or play games like Pokemon Go while you are walking https://t.co/AXJVGX6UvJ
— The Wurzel Agency (@wurzelagency) April 14, 2017
In 2014, a Safe Kids study showed that teens are significantly more vulnerable in the traffic environment.
What’s more…in a survey of over 1,000 teens, they said they were often distracted while walking.
That’s not being a good New Yorker…
So many things can happen when you’re crossing the street. A random car may be blocking the crosswalk. A driver could turn without using their turn signal. A bike could run through the red light.
Check out YouTube superstar Casey Neistat, a real-life Vision Hero…
It’s impossible to predict what other cars will do, so look up from your phone and focus on what’s in front of you. Even better: step off to the side to message and keep going after you’re done. If you’re looking at your screen, how do you know an approaching driver isn’t looking at theirs? Don’t assume that drivers see you. Make sure. Make eye contact with them.
Walking with earphones
Hope she at least turned down the volume when she was crossing. (Ed Yourdon / Flickr)
Texting while walking gets a lot of attention, but listening to music is also dangerous.
If you’re wearing earphones, flipping through Musical.ly, walking down the street, be extra careful. And not just because you might embarrass yourself. Not paying attention can actually be kind of like going temporarily blind.
Do you have them songs that you physically can't listen to on your earphones in the street bc you know you'll start singing it
— cloz (@clozbrackerz) March 19, 2015
So close to getting hit by a car while crossing the street with my earphones on… what's stupid? #neveragain
— Waldo Perfecto (@wperfectox) April 24, 2014
You could really put yourself at risk.
Wearing earphones while walking causes what’s called “inattentional blindness” as illustrated in The Monkey Business Illusion.
Of 116 people injured while wearing headphones, 81 died. Scary.
I was walking down the street with my earphones on when suddenly gotta be you started playing… then a bus hit me..
— proud of zjm (@zxynblue) March 21, 2015
I'm walking down the street tweeting with noise canceling headphones on so I won't hear the car that kills me
— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) March 10, 2015
If you really really really want to keep listening to your tunes, here are 4 things you can do:
- Use earbuds or earpods instead of noise-cancelling headphones.
- Pop off one earbud or headphone.
- Turn down the volume.
- Look around more carefully.
Rushing across the street while the light is turning
Hey, we’ve all done this at some point, right? Please think twice before you do it again.
Watch those signals when you’re crossing the street. (Giphy)
It’s tempting to cross the street once a signal starts flashing. But it’s not the safest idea. What if you drop something important, like your phone or MetroCard? Will you have time to pick it up before the signal turns?
That flashing hand sign actually isn’t saying “Hurry up!” It’s saying “You might not have time to cross safely.”
While pedestrian signals are used as a guide to help you cross the street safely, you make the final decision. Make sure you have enough time to get safely across when the red hand starts flashing. Make a smart choice!
Hey, watch where you’re going. (Giphy)
We shouldn’t have to say this, but don’t cross the street when there’s oncoming traffic!
That was close. TOO close. (Giphy)
Turning vehicles
We know that NYC kids 14 and under are most likely to get hit while they’re in the crosswalk with the walk signal in their favor. One of the biggest threats to pedestrian safety is turning vehicles. So protect yourself, and look for them, again, and then again after that!
Walking at night, mist, fog, etc.
Walking at night in the city brings up a whole other set of issues. (Greyframe / Flickr)
During the evening and night, visibility is low. That means it’s harder for drivers–and walkers–to see clearly. Wearing something light colored makes you more visible–but no matter what you’re wearing, it’s important to be extra careful and aware of your surroundings.
You (and others!) see half as well, so you need to be twice as careful.
To own the night, be aware. (Giphy)
So, especially when it’s harder for cars to see you: Keep your eyes and ears on the street, not your phone or your music.
walked in the road in the dark headphones on loud wearing black not paying attention and looking down, I almost got hit by a car 😳
— Jack Naiper (@LifeAsJUICE) July 5, 2015
Be smart and be safe
It’s awesome to have and use multimodal means to get around NYC.
“Everybody on the streets deserves respect. Before you use the streets you got to check, check.”
Knowing how to get around the city means you’re street smart. Use those smarts to show respect, be green, and survive.
Anybody can be book smart its hard to be successful without some kind of common sense and street smarts
— Bobby Axlerod (@_teflondonz) March 24, 2015
