On your feet!
So, as I've mentioned in an earlier entry, I'm quite the walker. Hmm... I've heard of someone being quite the "looker", and I don't know, maybe I fall into that category, too. It depends on who's "looking", of course. ;-) Anyway, I wanted to use this blog to perform a public service to all those who walk in Yerevan.
Yerevan's streets are not exactly... "designed" for the walker, to put it one way. In particular, the street lights seem to be inclined to work more in favour of the vehicles. At first, I thought it was just me, or maybe some pessimistic selective memory, you know ? I mean, it must have been my fault that I ended up at one side of Sayat Nova, waiting, waiting... Well, of course, cars move from different directions, but - and perhaps I'm being naive here, all the same - one would assume that there would be a point when the street would be empty enough so that someone on two feet, as opposed to four wheels, could also pound the asphalt. Hmm.... No, sir, the cars keep on coming and going, incessantly, unceasingly...
Much as I admire the assiduous nature of our cars, this presents something of a dilemma, and I have come to discover that there are two ways out of it. You could do the ol' half-n-half, i.e. -
1) Don't bother looking at the lights
2) Just cross that part of the street that is without vehicles at a given point of time. Invariably, it's half the street.
3) Then, patiently wait in the middle of the street until the second half is also free of cars, and cross there.
4) Repeat as necessary.
Simple enough.
There is a down side to this, though. (This part constitutes a disclaimer) See, at certain street crossings, there is NO point when half the street does not have moving traffic. You have to go lane-by-lane in those cases. And one crossing in particular - one end of Baghramyan, to the HSBC kiosk, near the Opera - is downright dangerous, I'd highly recommend never crossing the street from there as such. (And, I may add, that was not a joke, I really do make it a point to avoid it.)
The other option is, and this is not meant to be funny either, crossing the street from the middle of the road, as opposed to the zebra crossings. See, the cars tend to accumulate at lights, very often stopping right ON the zebra crossings anyway. Most drivers also tend to be "pedal-happy" there. Please bear in mind that you are a two-legged, flesh-and-bones entity, quite incapable of withstanding the onslaught of a four-wheeled, iron-and-steel mass. Simple physics, don't you know... So, all in all, crossing from the middle is actually often effective. It's also philosophically sound, especially if you're a Buddhist, as you'll be on "The Middle Path".
I have found, though, that pedestrians generally do have the right of way in Yerevan. As long as it isn't in the way of cars, of course. That's the right way. ;-)
Yerevan's streets are not exactly... "designed" for the walker, to put it one way. In particular, the street lights seem to be inclined to work more in favour of the vehicles. At first, I thought it was just me, or maybe some pessimistic selective memory, you know ? I mean, it must have been my fault that I ended up at one side of Sayat Nova, waiting, waiting... Well, of course, cars move from different directions, but - and perhaps I'm being naive here, all the same - one would assume that there would be a point when the street would be empty enough so that someone on two feet, as opposed to four wheels, could also pound the asphalt. Hmm.... No, sir, the cars keep on coming and going, incessantly, unceasingly...
Much as I admire the assiduous nature of our cars, this presents something of a dilemma, and I have come to discover that there are two ways out of it. You could do the ol' half-n-half, i.e. -
1) Don't bother looking at the lights
2) Just cross that part of the street that is without vehicles at a given point of time. Invariably, it's half the street.
3) Then, patiently wait in the middle of the street until the second half is also free of cars, and cross there.
4) Repeat as necessary.
Simple enough.
There is a down side to this, though. (This part constitutes a disclaimer) See, at certain street crossings, there is NO point when half the street does not have moving traffic. You have to go lane-by-lane in those cases. And one crossing in particular - one end of Baghramyan, to the HSBC kiosk, near the Opera - is downright dangerous, I'd highly recommend never crossing the street from there as such. (And, I may add, that was not a joke, I really do make it a point to avoid it.)
The other option is, and this is not meant to be funny either, crossing the street from the middle of the road, as opposed to the zebra crossings. See, the cars tend to accumulate at lights, very often stopping right ON the zebra crossings anyway. Most drivers also tend to be "pedal-happy" there. Please bear in mind that you are a two-legged, flesh-and-bones entity, quite incapable of withstanding the onslaught of a four-wheeled, iron-and-steel mass. Simple physics, don't you know... So, all in all, crossing from the middle is actually often effective. It's also philosophically sound, especially if you're a Buddhist, as you'll be on "The Middle Path".
I have found, though, that pedestrians generally do have the right of way in Yerevan. As long as it isn't in the way of cars, of course. That's the right way. ;-)
posted by Nareg at 9:33 AM
5 Comments:
I think the little green men on the "walk" signs should be in "Sprint" position. Perhaps Nike can sponsor the overhaul.
Crossing near Baghramian is a death wish. Perhaps we can dress in rubber tubes and just run across without looking and see what happens. We might start a new professional sport (The Armenian Traffic Dodging Team). From another walker/sprinter like yourself. :)
Sonya, that was a great comment! But don't dismiss your ideas, you may have something there... ;-)
Isn't the little green man running for his dear life? He sure doesn't look like walking.
I had a picture of him but can't find it in order to post for everyone to see.
Nareg, your blog about crossing the street in the "middle" conjured up an image from a Seinfeld episode when George has to move the frogger machine across the street in traffic!!
Crossing the street in Yerevan is an art that each must perfect on their own. I find that even when I think it's safe to cross the street because cars to my left and right are stopped there's always a flood of vehicles turning left or right so I have to dodge them.
One time a friend & I were standing in the crosswalk bearly off the sidewalk on Toumanian waiting to find a safe time to cross and a parked GRAND CANDY van reversed right into us!
My cousin who has three kids is afraid to visit Yerevan for this very reason. She says she can just imagine herself with children & strollers in tow hanging out on a street corner all day trying to find a safe time to cross the street!
However, once again... it's
Maybe it's because I'm born in Syria, but I didn't find street-crossing all that dramatic in Yerevan..
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