I agree with the sentiment and the implied solution.
I would also like to suggest the edit that this is not an entirely new phenomenon, though. In Pompeii, there are crosswalks made of stone blocks a little taller than average curb height today and spaced such that the wheels of chariots and wagons may pass between them. They’re there so that pedestrians can cross the street without stepping into it. The technical reasons are different, but I believe the driving force is the same: the arbitrary socioeconomic stratification of society to facilitate authoritarianism.
Cars are just the latest bastard tool in the escalating conflict. Horse-drawn carriages were very much a menace to pedestrians, albeit, not nearly as bad as cars. There was a brief period of time, around 1900 CE when public transportation reached its per capita peak. We’ve regressed from that rapidly, but I believe there will be a return to similar rates of public transportation utilization. I just hope I’m around to see it.
They’re there so that pedestrians can cross the street without stepping into it. The technical reasons are different, but I believe the driving force is the same: the arbitrary socioeconomic stratification of society to facilitate authoritarianism.
It’s because the street was also the sewer. I’m not sure I buy your socioeconomic stratification/authoritarianism argument, especially since I doubt that even equites were routinely riding around instead of walking within the city. In much the same way it isn’t worth riding a bike instead of walking for really short trips because of the hassle of unlocking and locking it, a horse – let alone one pulling a cart – wouldn’t be worth it for any but the most ostentatious because Pompeii simply isn’t that big. By the time a rider got the damn thing saddled or yoked, a walker could be across town.
I mean, to be sure, Roman society was authoritarian, but I don’t think the crosswalks were necessarily a symptom of it.
I agree with the sentiment and the implied solution.
I would also like to suggest the edit that this is not an entirely new phenomenon, though. In Pompeii, there are crosswalks made of stone blocks a little taller than average curb height today and spaced such that the wheels of chariots and wagons may pass between them. They’re there so that pedestrians can cross the street without stepping into it. The technical reasons are different, but I believe the driving force is the same: the arbitrary socioeconomic stratification of society to facilitate authoritarianism.
Cars are just the latest bastard tool in the escalating conflict. Horse-drawn carriages were very much a menace to pedestrians, albeit, not nearly as bad as cars. There was a brief period of time, around 1900 CE when public transportation reached its per capita peak. We’ve regressed from that rapidly, but I believe there will be a return to similar rates of public transportation utilization. I just hope I’m around to see it.
It’s because the street was also the sewer. I’m not sure I buy your socioeconomic stratification/authoritarianism argument, especially since I doubt that even equites were routinely riding around instead of walking within the city. In much the same way it isn’t worth riding a bike instead of walking for really short trips because of the hassle of unlocking and locking it, a horse – let alone one pulling a cart – wouldn’t be worth it for any but the most ostentatious because Pompeii simply isn’t that big. By the time a rider got the damn thing saddled or yoked, a walker could be across town.
I mean, to be sure, Roman society was authoritarian, but I don’t think the crosswalks were necessarily a symptom of it.