Crosswalks

One of the things I noticed the first time I visited Canada (Vancouver in September 2003) was that people really respect the walk/don't walk lights. Also, people don't tend to cross in the middle of the block.

The same thing is true in Toronto.

I'm astounded by how people will just refuse to cross against the light even when there are no cars in sight. It's much like the scene in "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" just after Neil Patrick Harris ("NPH wouldn't do that!") steals Harold's car. My Lonely Planet Toronto has a quote by someone saying that people are so law-abiding here that not even the imminent explosion of an atomic bomb will cause people to ignore the crossing signal.

I'm thinking there's a good rule of thumb for identifying Americans here. If you see someone crossing against the signal or in the middle of the block, 9 times out of 10, that person is an American. I know it's true with me.