Whether you are on vacation or just live in a busy town, sometimes you can’t avoid travelling on foot. Some people love getting outside in the fresh air, especially if the places they love to be are all within walking distance.
However, other people hate walking around a busy area without the comforts and distractions of a car. No matter why you are wandering around on foot, you need to make sure that you are remaining safe and doing your part to minimize accidents.
Here’s what you need to know to stay safe in the busy part of town.
Look Both Ways When You Cross The Street
Yes, we are going to start this off with a lesson you should have internalized in school. Whenever you are at a crosswalk, even if the lights are all the right color and the walk sign is on, take the time to look around and make sure all the cars in the area have come to a complete stop.
Sometimes cars turn, try to run a light, or the drivers aren’t paying attention and that leads to accidents or some hair-raising near misses. So make sure to turn your attention to the road and ensure it is safe before you start to cross.
Be Mindful Of Others
Going with the above statement, it might not just be road traffic you need to deal with. In a busy city there could be foot traffic, bikes, dogs, and other movements all happening around you, so make sure to keep your eyes on the people around you.
Give people enough space, don’t push through crowds, and keep your eyes out for bikes, leashed dogs, or workers that might present challenges as you try to get to where you need to go.
Avoid Rush Hour & Peak Periods
Often, we go to a busy city in order to do something. Maybe we want to buy something, eat somewhere, or take in the sights with our friends and family. But sometimes the world gets so busy it can seem impossible to get where we need to go in a timely manner, especially if we have stuff in our hands.
Whether that item is food, our phones, or the latest items we have bought, trying to get through a busy crowd on a sidewalk while also trying to hold onto something valuable to us can be next to impossible, not to mention annoying for everyone who needs to share a space with you.
It might be a good idea to time your trip to avoid busy periods such as rush hour and lunchtime.
Watch Out For Uber And Lyft Drivers
This might seem like a subset of number one, but Uber and Lyft drivers especially need to be looked out for and given space.
They need to pick up their customers and get them to a destination, and often that means either using more speed than they need to use, or parking in awkward places while their customer boards the car.
While you can do everything you can to remain safe, sometimes you might still get injured by an Uber or Lyft driver moving too fast, so once you are okay from the collision, you need to contact a Lyft and Uber injury lawyer (in Philadelphia) to help you out.
Make sure to keep an eye on your Uber and Lyft drivers in your area, because they are going to have as much trouble maneuvering in the busy city as you are with all the foot and vehicle traffic, and they have a job to do on top of all of that.
Keep Your Wits About You And Enjoy The Busy City
All of these safety tips come from your awareness level. You need to be aware of what is going on around you and know how to react to changing situations. While this can be very hard to do in a busy city when you have a lot to do and places to go, it will keep you and others with you from being injured, and it will also allow you to enjoy the vibrant and alive city!