ABSTRACT
Imagine a busy street in the early morning with cars passing by, filled with people rushing to get to work on time. Cars are able to travel freely, as there are no traffic lights or stop signs on the street. The only possible restriction of traffic is a white-lined crosswalk in the middle of the street. The sidewalks are empty, except for a young woman dressed in sweatpants and an old T-shirt, who is eagerly making her way to the gym. Cars zoom by as she approaches the white-lined crosswalk. As she assertively takes a single step into the road, the cars continue to speed past; drivers pretend that they do not see her. She is invisible to the drivers, and anxiously searches for eye contact with the one driver that will take the initiative to slow and allow her to safely cross the busy street. With no external traffic signals other than the white crosswalk, it is up to the drivers to acknowledge the woman in the crosswalk and allow her to safely cross. She takes another step forward and cars continue to speed by pretending that they do not see her. Twenty seconds pass and suddenly, a man dressed in a black pinstripe suit and dark sunglasses approaches the same crosswalk. The cars instantly slow and come to a stop before he even enters the crosswalk. Both pedestrians are safely able to make it to the other side.
