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Don't use your cell phone in the crosswalk

Pedestrian Cell Phone

When I was going to the post office today, I wanted to make a left turn into the parking lot. Here were two young people, a man and a woman, looking at their cell phones as they were walking down the sidewalk. As they approached the entry to the parking lot where I wanted to turn in, the man stopped looking down from his phone and walked a little bit faster. The woman kept looking down at her cell phone, walking slowly across the place where I wanted to enter.

As I turned and went by them, I honked. The woman gave me a dirty look. I wished I would have honked at them as they sauntered across the entry point.

Now, I don't mind stopping for pedestrians. I do it all the time. It's the law. I even know that cars are supposed to stop when pedestrians are at the curb on corners where cross walks aren't painted.

However, I don't like to wait for pedestrians who are on their cell phones taking their sweet time. In addition to being rude, it's dangerous. You can get hurt not just in the crosswalk, but also walking down the street, if you're not paying attention.

The poster above was used by local councils in Sydney, Australia, to educate people about the dangers of using your cell phone while walking.

After the irritating experience of pedestrians on cell phones not paying attention to where they were walking, I went to Safeway to pick up some medication. In front of me in the line was a woman on her cell phone. She had the phone in her purse and was just talking, talking, talking.

I thought, well, I'll wait 5 minutes before I say something. After checking my Facebook for a couple of minutes, I couldn't stand it any longer. I asked her if she would stop using her cell phone. She was very surprised by my request. I told her that it's rude to have long conversations in public that other people have to listen to. Fortunately, it was her turn to get her medication and she moved forward, picked up her medication, and left.

I asked the pharmacy clerk if she talked on her phone the whole time he waited on her. He said no, she just talked to him.

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I've written about cell phone etiquette. I just wish more people were informed about it and more thoughtful of others. 

Comments

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Jennifer

I spent 25 years working for a cellphone company. I cringe at cellphone rudeness, especially those who hold conversations while they are on speaker phone. Excuse me, I don't want to even hear your side of the conversation, never mind the person on the other end of the phone.

Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

Sometimes I wish they were never invented! I know I rely totally on mine but it is just another area for people to let their lack of courtesy show. I hate it when people walk along texting and then get annoyed because they bump into you! Also, the total lack of respect when standing and ordering something at the counter yet still continuing their telephone conversation

Carol Cassara

There's a lot of that going around. People just do not think.

Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski

I live in an area of LA where everyone is on their cell phones. They can be walking the dog, crossing the street, climbing a ladder and never get off their phones. I hope they don't have an accident but they are setting themselves up for one.

Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

I can't stand it when people are walking along and texting! Then they have the audacity to complain if they bump into you. It is really out of control!

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