Crazy Taxi, Indeed

So you know that video game called Crazy Taxi? Basically, you're a taxi driver in some city and you have a quota you need to meet of a certain number of people. But there's really no boundaries as to where you can drive; you can drive on the sidewalk, through sidewalk cafes, etc. At least, that's how I think it works. Either way, it truly is a crazy taxi. Ha. (Last time I played it was like five years ago, at least.) Anyway, I had to take a cab today up to the place I was babysitting. (My brother's girlfriend's sister's house--she has the most adorable son. I consider him my nephew.) Granted, we were driving north on Halsted--which isn't the smartest thing to do at 5:45 on a Friday afternoon--I definitely feared for my life a couple times. And I was inside the car! This guy was clearly irritated once I got in the car and I found myself wishing I would've caught a different cab. But oh well. I was stuck in his. Blehh. Anyway, I watched him weave in and out, sometimes even being in the completely wrong lane--facing oncoming traffic completely. I was like "OOOkkkkkkk buddy." Not too much fun. But then there were also times when I felt bad for a pedestrian. There they are, completely unprotected, unlike the driver, but he still got right up on them. I found that more annoying than anything. Why? Because I've definitely had a cab do the same thing to me. I was walking across the street and he started slowing down like he was going to let me go in front of him. But as I watched him, to make sure he would stop so that I don't get hit (because I've been hit by a car before and I wasn't trying to let it happen again) I put one foot that was clearly in front of him, so half of my body was in front of his car. But tell me why he kept on rolling closer and closer and was obviously not going to stop. So I basically almost had my foot run over by the guy, who really didn't seem to care.

Bottom line, it's like I said: "It's a city full of buses and taxis and pedestrians who don't have the right-of-way." Everyone has to be on their toes at alllll times, especially when crossing the street. But in a world of cell phones and headphones and just straight up oblivious people, crossing the street is risky business.