Advocacy & Safety - Not just bikes...

Just thought I'd share. Today I was crossing a crosswalk in the middle of a block and a woman comes screaming up to the crosswalk, obviously speeding, slams on her brakes as I'm in the middle of it and in her way. She then gives me the WTF look, complete with arms out and palms up. So I notice her window is down. I walk over and ask, "is there a problem, peds have the right of way in a crosswalk."

She says, "Not when a car is coming, moron".

I was dumbfounded.

I'm getting more and more concerned about the ignorance and self righteousness of our popoulation. Why can't we simply teach people how to drive and hold them responsible when they act like idiots?

Az

Just let karma take care of them.

I'm a ped very often, and this is all too common where I live. Cars will try to muscle through a busy crosswalk and due to their size there isn't much the peds can do.

I think georgia needs to institute a real driving test cause most people her are totally ignorant to the laws

I think georgia needs to institute a real driving test cause most people here are totally ignorant to the laws

I totally agree, people drive like complete loonies here.

I am originally from out of state so I don't know what the driving test is like. However I do know when I transferred my license to GA all it took was a check, not any sort of written or road test.

We have created a culture of personal irresponsibility and self centeredness (sp?) We reap what we sow.

-D

And to think that some believe it is the cyclists that need education...

She was completely wrong but this incident raises the very important issue that even if you have the right of way on a bike (or as a ped), never rely on it. Always leave youself a way out. You will never win in a bike vs car collission.

The sad thing is that this is not an isolated incident at all... I have seen motorists honk at school kids in crosswalks, when the kids had a clear walk signal. I have seen motorists force their way through a crowd of pedestrians downtown when the peds had a walk signal...

Apparently many motorists feel "empowered" by sitting behind the wheel and say the heck to anything in their way... including ROW laws. The most typical abuse is running the red on right on red turn.

In light of universal display of ignorance of the driving population, perhaps our society would be better served if advocacy groups pressed for lowered speed limits.

In light of the universal display of ignorance of the driving population, perhaps your society would be better served by actually teaching people the laws of the road and how to follow them?

In light of the universal display of ignorance of the driving population, perhaps your society would be better served by actually teaching people the laws of the road and how to follow them?
There's a thought.

In light of universal display of ignorance of the driving population, perhaps our society would be better served if advocacy groups pressed for lowered speed limits.

I'll settle for having current speed limits enforced.

Also, I'd like to see some ticketting of motorists who don't seem to notice or understand what that white line painted on the roadway adjacent to a Stop Sign means.

I am especially fond of those drivers who are waiting to make a right turn and fail to realize that the walk light is for pedestrians and not a sign for them to gun it.

In light of the universal display of ignorance of the driving population, perhaps your society would be better served by actually teaching people the laws of the road and how to follow them?
Do you actually believe that speeders are not aware of the law in regards to exceeding the speed limit?
Not being concerned about violating the law, and not being aware of it, are two distinctly different subjects.

Do you actually believe that speeders are not aware of the law in regards to exceeding the speed limit?
Not being concerned about violating the law, and not being aware of it, are two distinctly different subjects.

Since you're unable to read between the lines, or see what's in front of you here's a ;) to help you along.
Have a :) too.

My point was to do with the fact that there are too many drivers who don't understand simple road basics such as who has right of way on a pedestrian crossing. Maybe it's because many states are virtually giving away driving licences in cereal boxes (Go on, take that literally...) without thoroughly testing a new driver's knowledge of the road.
I never said anything about obeying speed limits.

I think you meant to quote the post above mine.. If not, you should've seeing as it would've helped the context of yours.

Do you actually believe that speeders are not aware of the law in regards to exceeding the speed limit?
Not being concerned about violating the law, and not being aware of it, are two distinctly different subjects.

You're right, the evidence that knowledge of the law exists is pretty obvious as soon as a hiway patrol car shows up... suddenly so many motorists magically "toe the line."

The motorists know the law, but feel entitled to disobey none the less.

You're right, the evidence that knowledge of the law exists is pretty obvious as soon as a hiway patrol car shows up... suddenly so many motorists magically "toe the line."

The motorists know the law, but feel entitled to disobey none the less.

Exactly my point!

If you understood my original post, you'd also understand that I agree too.

Exactly my point!

That is correct to a point, but there is certainly a disturbing amount of ignorance about where they are supposed to give way to pedestrians, or where cyclists should be riding. A driver that slows down when they see the highway patrol may still argue blue in the face, even to a police officer, that they don't have to give way to peds.

As to the situation in the OP - Ron White said it best; "You can't fix stupid"

If you understood my original post, you'd also understand that I agree too.

Your op is irrelevant to what I wrote; you are right, I made a typo when I used your post as a place holder for my comments. Drivers are well aware of the law in regards to speeding. The comments from some other posters that somehow new speeding laws or training is needed ignores that simple fact. Laws regarding interactions with pedestrians or bicyclists are misunderstood by many, including many BF posters. For example the posts from our parochial West Coast colleagues who write of the "universal" requirements/their expectations for motorists to stop and yield right of way to pedestrians whenever/wherever they step into the street.

Just thought I'd share. Today I was crossing a crosswalk in the middle of a block and a woman comes screaming up to the crosswalk, obviously speeding, slams on her brakes as I'm in the middle of it and in her way.

You were already well in the crosswalk, right? Could you see her before you started out? If you were already out there, saw her, and then she started accelerating, I'd say that that was some seriously threatening behavior on her part.

Right of way or not, whether they're speeding or not, it's generally safer to cross a street when the car is far enough away that they don't need to hit the brakes. Assume that they're not paying attention and might hit you; or, if someone's behind them and not paying attention themselves, they might rear-end the panic-braking car in front of them.

I mentioned in another thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=363064&page=2) that I don't like pedestrian-only crosswalks in the middle of a block whether I'm walking, biking, or driving, and your experience just reinforces my distaste. They give pedestrians legal rights that are pretty impractical in terms of overall safety and traffic flow. It really doesn't hurt to wait a few seconds longer for cars to pass; and if there are just too many cars, they'll probably be so congested anyway that you'll be able to walk between them while they're standing still.

I had a friend who regularly crossed a busy street (5+ lanes) at a marked -- but without signal lights -- pedestrian crossing. It crossed maybe thirty yards from a major intersection, below the crest of the hill 40 yards away on the other side, and right next to the entrance/exit to a shopping area. B-U-S-Y with traffic from several directions at once. She would often walk right out, even at night, saying that cross traffic had to stop because she legally had the right of way. Okay, I granted her that much -- legally she was correct, and as she was headed into the law profession, she certainly knew it. I contended that it was still impractical and unsafe, and that she should still wait for a generous pause in traffic rather than, for example, walk in front of the thirty-odd cars that were just then taking off from the intersection just a little ways away.

She's still alive (as far as I know) and they've added a ped-operated signal at the crossing for better timing & visibility. It was a point of contention between us for quite a while, though.

Just thought I'd share. Today I was crossing a crosswalk in the middle of a block and a woman comes screaming up to the crosswalk, obviously speeding, slams on her brakes as I'm in the middle of it and in her way. She then gives me the WTF look, complete with arms out and palms up. So I notice her window is down. I walk over and ask, "is there a problem, peds have the right of way in a crosswalk."

She says, "Not when a car is coming, moron".

I was dumbfounded.

I'm getting more and more concerned about the ignorance and self righteousness of our popoulation. Why can't we simply teach people how to drive and hold them responsible when they act like idiots?

Az

OMGWTFBBQ!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Nothing like this has happened to me...yet. When it does, it means it's time for me to move back to Japan. Or anywhere cars don't wrestle their right of way over everyone else.

*sigh*

how about stopping at a red light when its right on red

Just let karma take care of them.

Why not be karma yourself?

I walk over and ask, "is there a problem, peds have the right of way in a crosswalk."

She says, "Not when a car is coming, moron".

I was dumbfounded.

I'm getting more and more concerned about the ignorance and self righteousness of our popoulation.
I'm pretty satisfied that a certain percentage of motorists are both ignorant and foolish.

Why not be karma yourself?
You can't be karma. You can only be karmalized.

In light of the universal display of ignorance of the driving population, perhaps your society would be better served by actually teaching people the laws of the road and how to follow them?

And make it harder for the US government to ID people. C'mon, really?!!! LOL... With migratory workers, economics, and a political environment at work here. There's another 1st page post about how they're giving DLs away.

on a side note I had a friend tell me seat belt are so they can find the body..He is a paramedic so don't think it's for your safety as the commercials want you to believe

on a side note I had a friend tell me seat belt are so they can find the body..He is a paramedic so don't think it's for your safety as the commercials want you to believe

Sorry, but he's ********.

I mentioned in another thread that I don't like pedestrian-only crosswalks in the middle of a block whether I'm walking, biking, or driving, and your experience just reinforces my distaste.

The crossing is required. There's parking on one side and a business on the other. There are no other safe places to cross for quite a distance in either direction. I'm not sure why you dislike xwalks in block centers... I've lived in other countries that seem to have no problem with them. Only in America would it be construed an infringement on a motorist's personal freedom to have to wait for someone else.

I'm the most patient, nice guy in the world. I would rather stand on the side of the road for 15 minutes and wait for no cars than walk out in front of traffic although the law actually states that motorists have to stop if someone is waiting to cross the xwalk. (That's never, ever happened) If she hadn't been dramatically speeding, she probably could have simply taken her foot off the gas for 5 seconds and missed me entirely. But because she was going an easy 25mph over the limit (not unusual in this area, unfortunately) I didn't even see her coming when I stepped out, and it gave her little room to react.

The tone of your message seems to be that I have ultimate responsibility here. I appreciate your concern, but I'm a big boy. Right or wrong has already been attended to by the law. When I have to look over my shoulder and stay hyper aware at every step because no one else is paying the slightest bit of attention to what they're doing, there's a fundamental flaw in the way our society is working.

At any rate, her response was funny in a pathetic, sad kind of way. I just thought I would share.

Az

on a side note I had a friend tell me seat belt are so they can find the body..He is a paramedic so don't think it's for your safety as the commercials want you to believe

That's the second most ignorant quote in this thread.

Do you really believe that?

Az

I'm not sure why you dislike xwalks in block centers... I've lived in other countries that seem to have no problem with them.

I've typed a whole lot, both here and in that other thread (and probably elsewhere, too), about why I don't like them. If I haven't been clear enough, then I don't know how else to put it.


The tone of your message seems to be that I have ultimate responsibility here. I appreciate your concern, but I'm a big boy. Right or wrong has already been attended to by the law. When I have to look over my shoulder and stay hyper aware at every step because no one else is paying the slightest bit of attention to what they're doing, there's a fundamental flaw in the way our society is working.

Of course you have ultimate responsibility -- you are where you choose to be. A bonus of being a pedestrian is agility & adaptability, IMO -- we can walk anywhere and change directions & location fairly quickly and with little extra effort. Cars can't do that, and bikes have their limitations, too.

The law does not protect anyone from getting hurt, either. It discourages bad behavior, but obviously, "in the heat of the moment", people will still do stupid things and hurt each other. The way I put it, the law doesn't make my leg impervious to injury if it gets rolled over by a car. I can't be lying there with a half-broken body crying out, "What you did was illegal!" and expect to feel better about the months or years of rehab I'll have to endure.

Having to "stay hyper aware at every step" is an overreaction. 99% of the time you only have to look out for cracked pavement, so the extra vigilance is only necessary that 1% of the time.

And, no, I never said that our society was functioning well at all. It would be nice if it were, but it sure isn't, so it's best to just work with it and get through in one piece. Nobody's going to chance society by how they walk through traffic.


At any rate, her response was funny in a pathetic, sad kind of way. I just thought I would share.

Az

Agreed. :beer:

the only place I think the walks are bad is at the airport they would be good if a crossing guard controlled them but you almost have to get the people to stop at some point or the car will never get across

And make it harder for the US government to ID people. C'mon, really?!!! LOL... With migratory workers, economics, and a political environment at work here. There's another 1st page post about how they're giving DLs away.

:lol: Gotta love that NWO.. Or not...

:lol: Gotta love that NWO.. Or not...

New World Order? Why not spell "it" out for those of us who ain't as hip as you?

New World Order? Why not spell "it" out for those of us who ain't as hip as you?

So are you hip? Or did you just google it?

No googling, just guessed based on context. I figured it wasn't related to NWA since that would not be PC enuff for that particular poster.

:lol: Gotta love that NWO.. Or not...

nWo 4 Lyfe!

http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Wrestling-Action-Figure-WWF/dp/B000MM2PJU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lnxshsx4-Y4

;) :D

New World Order? Why not spell "it" out for those of us who ain't as hip as you?

Obviously didn't need to did I?
Hey, guess you're hipper than you thought, and you said 'ain't'.
Now you just gotta wear your trousers halfway down your arse. Try it with lycra. You'll look cool, swear to god.

I figured it wasn't related to NWA since that would not be PC enuff for that particular poster.

Eh? Not PC enough? You got the wrong guy.. Again.

I understand the laws/rules of the road whenever I happen to be behind the wheel, but it also seems that there is a need for some education to be given to many peds in my area about the laws of physics. A lot of peds over the years have stepped out in front of me seeming to think that a 4000 vehicle at 30mph can stop in an instant, and give you a harsh look, or hardly acknowledge the fact that you are there when you barely stop in time. Unfortunately, some inadvertent herd thinning(not by me) has been performed under such circumstances.

In the crosswalk and someone in a car screeches to a halt right beside me or tries to puss through gets a fist on the hood, hopefully causing a dent, and me throwing myself to the ground screaming holding my neck.
OK, if I'm feeling complacent I'll just stand there and let them push me before I fall down. I've done this one and it scared the crap out of the lady, then she tried to convince the police that I jumped in front of her car.:mad:

More proof that the US needs badly to lose an oil war--we need that collective crack over the head to correct our halfwitted transportation ideas.