Morning Schadenfreude

Aden and I have been very diligent about walking to the subway every morning for our commute downtown to work. It's about a 20 minute, 1.5 KM walk which, I can tell you, is much better than standing around waiting for the Sheppard bus, which can often take about 15 to 20 minutes, be jam packed with high school kids and generally an uncomfortable ride (and in the looming winter, it'll be better to be moving than standing still).

We walk along the residential streets, crossing one major street (Wilson Heights Blvd.) along the way. At the traffic lights of the intersection of this major street and the residential street, there are signs posted permitting no turning or straight through traffic from the major to the residential street from 7am to 10am. I noticed these signs back in late spring and also noticed a high number drivers ignored the signs. There are quite a few schools in the area, so there's a lot of parents taking the road to drop their kids off, as well, the street bridges the gap between Wilson Heights and Bathurst street, which makes it an attractive alternative to the often backed-up Sheppard Ave. But I imagine the "no turn" signs are intended as a traffic calming measure in the neighbourhood, and they weren't working. Until recently.

Okay, they're still not working, only now there's a police officer (or two) stationed about a half-block in on the street pulling over the bulk of motorists who decide to ignore the signage. Aden and I take great pleasure every morning walking past the row of cars the cops have pulled over and are giving tickets to, and then stopping (and usually waiting) at the lights at Wilson Heights keeping a eye out for any other traffic that decides to turn down the street, and keenly observing whether they get busted or if the cops are already too busy to pull more over.

It brings us great joy, this misery of others. It's a great start to my day, I must say. I think the highlight was the one day a short bus full of children was pulled over, I imagine much to the delight of the kids inside. Another day a mini van was pulled over and the mother had her three kids scramble out of the car and make their way to school on foot, as she was fourth in line to be served her ticket. Today a man in an Audi (or Lexus maybe) was pulled over and got out of his car and proceeded to debate with the cop about why he got pulled over. A few vehicles behind him, a Puralator van.

When we were standing at the Wilson Blvd. lights, I noticed two Bell Canada vans in the left turning lane waiting to turn onto the residential street. I was smiling because I knew these guys were going to get busted but I also noticed the front driver having a look around. When he looked at me I smiled and pointed up towards the sign and then indicated he should drive straight through. At first he was a little annoyed, as if to say, "whatever, it's just a sign" but then I think he caught sight the officers down the block walking between their pullovers. A third Bell van, unable to see down the road, was confused as to why the two vans in front of him suddenly turned right instead of left from the left turning lane and he continued on his path, noticing immediately the trap awaiting him and sharply turning into a driveway and turning around before he could get caught.

Yes, this is what makes my day a happy one from the get go.