Sorry, nothing aviation related. The statistics will tell you that flying is quite safe even if your "gut" says otherwise.
It was much more mundane than that. Someone almost ran me over.
Normally our Cleveland layover is in a very nice hotel downtown. Due to the recent protests in Cleveland the company has put us in a different hotel out by the airport.
I don't really want to make an issue of that. It's the company's dime and I'll stay where they tell me to stay.
So instead of the nice downtown hotel I'm out in strip-mall hell at the corner of Busy Street and Busier Street. You know, the typical suburban strip that you can find anywhere these days. I might as well be in Tulsa or Peoria because it's all the same food places.
It's very tough to be a pedestrian in an area that's designed for cars. The intersections aren't designed for pedestrians and the drivers aren't used to seeing them.
From earlier today I knew that the walk signal to cross this busy intersection gives you less than 30 seconds to make it across. I'm a fast walker but what if I was old older, or handicapped or had a small child with me?
Knowing this I'm watching for the light to change. That's when I made my near-fatal mistake. As soon as I got the walk signal I stepped off the curb. Sure, I checked to make sure nobody was running the red light. But I didn't check my "six" or more specifically my eight-o-clock position.
No sooner had I made the first step when she came out of nowhere. A dark green Land Rover made a fast right turn. As she passed by so close I could have touched her mirror I saw she was head-down and texting on her phone. She never looked up and never so much as slowed down. I doubt she ever knew I was there even after the fact.
It was so close. One step further into the street and I'd have been dead or badly injured.
Don't text and drive people. I know most people here are smart enough to know better but just in case you aren't. I'd almost rather take my chances with a drunk driver than someone who's texting. There's at least a slight chance the drunk might see me.
In an airliner there's a reason the pilot who's not actively flying is the one who talks on the radios (or sends text on the ACARS). When you're flying that's all you're supposed to be doing. See, I managed to work aviation in here after all.
To the person who almost hit me today. I will say this once and only once. If you have kids around you may want to cover their ears.
PUT THE GODDAM PHONE DOWN AND DRIVE BEFORE YOU KILL SOMEBODY!
