Taking it to the streets

As I was returning home from running some errands this afternoon, I turned onto the side street that leads to my house. I did so at a normal rate of speed.

About a third of the way up the block, an old man and two small children were walking down the middle of the street. The old man ushered the children to the side so I could drive by. He yelled something impolite at me as I drove past.

That's right. He was angry at me because I had the audacity to use, in a legal manner, a street. And even though there are two perfectly good sidewalks down either side of the street, he chose to lead two small children down the middle of that street, less than a block from a major arterial road.

What's sad is that this isn't the first time I've seen this.

On the opposite side of things, I've also seen a lot of adults - grown-ass people - riding bikes down the sidewalks.

So, St. Louis, can we all just agree that sidewalks are for feet and streets are for wheels? And can we maybe, just maybe, abide by that? And use crosswalks, too? You know, when the walk signal is lit?

I was on Grand the other day, and right near a four-way intersection, a kid - maybe 10 years old - darted out in front of me, perpendicular to traffic flow.

It's like he was asking to get hit.

When was street-crossing etiquette abandoned? Is this something people no longer teach their kids?