Pedestrian walks: decorative?

Some of you may know that our household has grown by one! Here's Beni:

In practice this means that we walk more (which is good) and that I pay more attention to other people's behavior while on the streets.

Many times I've been ranting about mopeds using the bike lanes (usually at their top 40km/h speed). That's plain dangerous. There are bikes, pedestrians, people walking with dogs, people with kids trolleys... it's no place for mopeds. But there's hope! (keep on reading)

Today's topic are pedestrian walks, which are places where pedestrians can walk, right? The rules are quite simple. If there are traffic lights, those rule; if there aren't, cars should stop so that pedestrians can change to the other side of the street safely. Do they stop? You wish... But again, there's hope!

I'll just go over four cases I've experienced in the last two days while trying to cross a pedestrian walk:

• Middle aged man driving an overpowered estate car (farmari suomeksi, cotxe familiar en català). Did he stop? He didn't even slow down!
• Teenager driving a moped. Did she stop? Yes she did, and nodded back to my appreciative nod!
• Middle aged woman driving an oversized SUV (city-masturi suomeski, 4x4 pijo de ciutat en català). Did she stop? No. She slowed down, and when I started crossing she yelled at me, made some obscene sign with the hand and sped up. (We're fine, thanks).
• Young dude driving a sports car with too loud music and way too loud engine and exhaust pipe. Did he stop? Yes he did. And he waved me to let me know he was letting me cross the street.

Conclusion: I'm worried since the car park in Espoo is vastly made out of middle aged people driving estates or SUVs. However, looking at the new generations there is hope!

And all of you people driving out there: come on, it's not that difficult and you won't loose that much time. From what anyway? Imprinting your buttocks in the sofa some extra seconds? And if you've been a pedestrian, or riding a bike (and the odds say that you have) you've suffered this! Fix it!

The worst sight for me was couple of winters ago. It was snowing a lot (remember, this is Finland) and a guy in his wheelchair was waiting in a pedestrian walk. None of the three cars in front of us stopped. Not kidding. I know it sucks to drive in the snow, but it's still nicer and warmer that being out there (and the wheelchair was just a bonus).

So, be nice to each other. Even if you're behind the wheel. And Beni is the cutest, isn't he?

Driving in the snow?

You definitely need some snow-how to drive in Finland when it snows!

Here are some tools that can make your life a bit easier.

1) A car inner heater. Finnish cars are usually equipped with engine heater and a conventional electrical plug next to the copilot seat. That's meant to use only for this kind of device. If you're lucky enough to have an own parking spot with an electric outlet, your mornings will be easier!

2) A brush. Most of them have something on the other side to scratch your windows out of ice. And please, be good and clean all the windows! Visibility is crucial, don't think that brushing and scratching the windshield is enough, you need mirrors also in winter!


3) A shovel. Am I exaggerating? No I am not! If you're gonna leave the car in the street, even if it's for couple of hours you may well need it.

And now some practical advice if your car gets stuck in the snow (other than shovel a bit).

1. Keep the wheels straight.
2. Try to start with 2nd gear rather than 1st. You get a bit more torque an avoid revving the engine.
3. Go a bit back, then a bit forth, then a bit back, and then forth again.
4. If none of this works, use the carpets under the driving wheels.

If the conditions are bad, control your speed, keep extra safety distance, don't do sudden turns, don't do sudden speed changes, be extra careful with other cars, remember that the cars will skid sideways a bit without much control, and don't try to play to be a rally driver.

And if you feel you're not in control, you probably shouldn't be driving!