[4X4]

Y'know, prior to moving to Rome, I would have been a big 'playground zones are necessary, thou shalt not lane split whilt on motorcycle, drivers are always at fault, pedestrians are helpless beings that just need to cross the street' guy.....

But now, I see just exactly how life has managed to evolve to the point where european countries can colonize new continents.

Seriously, Calgary... We are so far behind the times it's funny. There are so many rules for our roads that are only there to protect ourselves from ourselves. I laugh everyday when I see children crossing big roads here in Rome, harmfree.

Get rid of playground zones? Well, sounds drastic. Especially considering the way most people are so used to them. I'm in favour, but not just because I'm a right winged redneck that figures that everyone just needs to fend for themselves. More because it is so stupid that a forkin pedestrain can just bolt into a calgary crosswalk while a car is approaching, and the driver can get fined. Pure bullcrap. And playround zones are just a precursor to crosswalks. Try looking both ways before crossing the street. Of course, that takes away from the real purpose of the playground zone. Kids playing here. Drivers, go slow and be attentive.
Try that crosswalk garbage here. You'll end up horizontal. And the cops will simply tell you that you're an idiot.

From what I hear, in NZ there is a system that has a large diamond before the crosswalk. If the car has breached the diamond, he has right of way. If the pedestrian is in the crosswalk before the car is in the diamond, pedestrian has right of way. Sounds like a hell of a system. It is definitely better than the Roman 'start crossing the street and hope for the best' system, or the Calgarian 'walk into the street without looking, anytime, and know full well that if you get hit, the driver is so far up **** creek he'll be sucking your nutsack for 15 years' system.