Why?
Beijing might have been built for walking, but it's been rebuilt for a very different purpose. With the exception of a few older
areas, notably around Houhai Lake and the Forbidden City, walking in Beijing is something you will only do to get between two not-too-distant
points. Pollution, detours to find pedestrian underpasses, building materials stacked up just in front of your big toe and
huge crowds of people are just some of the problems. If you know its going to be a short walk and there are some interesting things
to see on the way, fine. Otherwise, take a bus.
What?
Beijing's larger roads are divided into two sections. The main 'road as we know it' bit is for anything with a motor and four or more
wheels. Divided from this by a strip of concrete, trees and bus stops is a lane reserved for bikes and the incredible variety
of three-wheeled things this city possesses. Some roads are fenced down the middle so you can't cross without using a bridge
or underpass, although taking away the fence would probably result in a Darwinian removal of the stupid and foolhardy from the
gene pool, while allowing the rest of us (or the rest of you, I might not make it) to saunter over the footbridge.
How?
Crossing the road is not terrifying, it is fun. Repeat this under your breath when necessary. It's not as bad as a lot of cities. I find it helps to tell myself that the twin yellow lines in the middle of the road are the 'Twin Yellow Lines of Invincibility' and cars and buses aren't allowed to hit me while I stand between them. So far, I haven't been proved wrong.
If you are using a pedestrian crossing, the red man means 'you'll die'. The green man appears to mean 'Come on. It's safe, really' However, traffic is allowed to turn right regardless of the colour of the light or the little man. This means a green man does not mean 'no traffic'. It actually means 'No traffic coming straight at you, but don't forget peripheral vision'.