This is a sequel to a previous post - Seemingly-Needless Jobs.

Here is another job, one which I’ve bumped into in Xi’an. A job similar to this one actually exists in Israel too, the main difference being that in Israel it is performed by twelve-year-olds. I am talking about the job of crosswalk attendants. These are people who stand at the crosswalks on intersections and instruct people when to cross the road. I believe that their effectiveness is diminished by the fact that the intersections in question have traffic lights (both regular, for cars, and those walking-green-man-standing-red man pedestrian lights). That being said, it seems that the main responsibilities of these attendants are:

1. Blowing the whistle when the pedestrian crossing light turns to green (this is useful if you are blind).
2. Rebuking bicycle riders for not getting off their bicycles when arriving at the crosswalk.