vol

Among drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, I think it's fair to say drivers and pedestrians are the most likely to be using cellphones or have earplugs in their ears while driving/walking. Much has been said about the danger caused by such drivers. But I'm finding it increasingly annoying that many pedestrians belong to this category, too. There have been so many times (more than half) that when I rang bell behind pedestrians, they were as deaf as a beetle, even when you are already closely passing them. In the majority cases I found out they were either on cellphone or listening to something with earplugs.

I don't use Air Zound because it doesn't sound like a car horn anyway and I don't want to worry about theft when parking the bike outside. (Mind you, some folks may not even react when hearing Air Zound.)

JoeyBike

I just brush them back to reality if they are hogging the "road". Love to watch them jump out of their skin. No one ever dropped their phone tho. I long for that day.

I got brushed by two cars on my morning commute today. I guess fair is fair. It's a dangerous world out there. Don't leave the house if everything annoys you.

agent pombero

yes, there is substantial research on idiot pedestrians glued to their electronic devices, much to their peril

Bungum, T.J., Day, C., Henry, L.J., 2005. The association of distraction and caution displayed by pedestrians at a lighted crosswalk. Journal of Community Health 30, 269–279.

Byington, K.W., Renfroe, M., Fetterer, M., Schwebel, D.C., 2011. Multitasking among college pedestrians: mobile internet use and perception of safety. In: Poster Presented at the Annual Convention of the Alabama Psychological Association, Orange Beach, AL, June.

Hatfield, J., Murphy, S., 2007. The effects of mobile phone use on pedestrian crossing behaviour at signalised and unsignalised intersections. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2007, 197–205.

Híjar, M., Vazquez-Vela, E., Arreola-Risa, C., 2003. Pedestrian traffic injuries in Mexico: a country update. Injury Control and Safety Promotion 10, 37–43.

Schwebel, D. C., Stavrinos, D., Byington, K. W., Davis, T., O'Neal, E. E., & de, J. D. (March 01, 2012). Distraction and pedestrian safety: How talking on the phone, texting, and listening to music impact crossing the street. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 45, 266-271.

Stavrinos, D., Byington, K.W., Schwebel, D.C., 2009. The effect of cell phone distrac- tion on pediatric pedestrian injury risk. Pediatrics 123, e179–e185.

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I have one of these and ding it rapidly at zombie pedestrians:


It gets their attention about 80% of the time.

The worst offenders are the idiots on MUPs. They'll have their iPods blasting while they're zigzagging on the trail without looking to see faster approaching traffic.

JoeyBike

Ah yes...the ubiquitous Meanderthol Zombie. Zombiquie Meandertholus

My favorite pedestrians - why can't they hold their line? I had two sightings this morning.

vol

Agent, your bell sounds loud, but would be much better if it lasts longer.

It's not just in noisy traffic areas. Often I was riding on a quiet bridge with no traffic, only me and the pedestrian, who's blocking my way.

rydabent

I concur 100%.

Chris516

I use my voice. I am not subtle, when I use my voice. Yesterday I was on ride, and four women taking up the whole road(it was in my small town with a 15mph speed limit)completely oblivious to my presence. Until one of them happen to turn around and see me. I thought of using one of my 'Ahems' to get there attention. But I didn't want them jumping out of their skin.

longbeachgary

xxxxxx.

agent pombero

^^ what an idiot

spare_wheel

errr...not sure how what his head phones have anything to do with his failure to look back.

PS: i've been riding with headphones since the days of the very first sony walkman.

JoeyBike

How dey gonna learn then?

Chris516

A bike path next to a culvert. The moron who made that decision should have their head examined.

Chris516

Agreed. I was probably being too 'kind'. I should have done one of my 'Ahem's.

agent pombero

longbeachgary

xxxxx

longbeachgary

Army Corp of Engineers and Los Angeles County.

mcnabb100

It certainly did not sound like you called out very loudly, it sounded almost like a normal speaking voice. That's not loud enough, you gotta really use those pipes.

You complained at him louder than you called.


I'm not saying you're at fault, i'm just saying you could have done more to prevent it.

vol

About 2 weeks ago I was riding on a small one-way street; another person was riding behind on my right. Two women pedestrians were crossing the street before us, looking at the other side (opposite to where our bikes were coming from). Both I and the other cyclists yelled: "Watch!!" "You are looking at the wrong direction!!" They seemed not to have heard, continuing crossing and looking at the wrong side.

agent pombero

The three most popular bridges for cyclists and pedestrians to get into downtown are the Hawthorne:




Steel,




and Broadway



During the warm months, the Hawthorne is the WORST bridge for cyclists IMO. Over 5000 cyclists a day ride over it (there is an electronic counter that shows this). There are thousands of joggers and runners who take up the whole sidewalk on both sides of the bridge. Pedestrians are supposed to stay to the right but they never do. You'll often find 4 or more running side by side. 75% of them are listening to an Ipod and can't hear you screaming to get their f**** asses to the right. Bells work only 50% of the time. Maybe.

The Steel bridge is equally as terrible, especially on the lower deck. Smart cyclists ride on the upper deck.

Broadway is *usually* pedestrian free but not always. It is the second best bridge to take for cyclists besides Burnside



(Hey photo wizards: how was this picture taken to look like that??)

vol

I'm curious if there is a statistics of how much Americans' hearing have worsened compared to pre-iPod days.

P.S. Agent: The last picture above seem to show two bunkers on the bridge? Hopeful there is a gun shooting at the pedestrians who refuse to hear bells/shouts.

agent pombero

[h=1]Are iPods Behind Rising Teen Hearing Loss?[/h]

I-Like-To-Bike

Phooey on you. Why are pedestrians obligated to react to your noise?

Go around them at a safe pace and clearance. If you can't do that, get off the bike and walk around them.

agent pombero

I wish!

CB HI

Only in LA would they call a concreted waterway a river rather than a culvert.

kite991

I have the issue of people walking in the center of the road and zig zagging; it makes you wonder how hard is it for a normal person to walk in a straight line to one side. Before I'd just linger behind them slowly waiting for them to notice. However, I am now more familiar with sharp turning without clipping the front wheel with my toe (I ride a kilo tt and have quite a bit of toe overlap) so I'll pass right by them and hope that they don't decide to stagger to the side that I'm trying to pass them on.