Pedestrians walking in front of me.
#1
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Pedestrians walking in front of me.
I've only been biking for the last 6 months or so. In that time I have had far more close encounters with people just walking out in front of me, than cars. I'm not talking about them using marked crosswalks. They have the right of way, that's a given. I have seen this happen many times, and yesterday it was done on snow/ice and could easily have caused me to bail, or hit her. Pedestrian walking on sidewalk, does a quick check up and down the street and begins to j-walk, right IN FRONT of me. This is in the afternoon, well lit. A 12-year old did it to me a couple of weeks ago with his friend, it's like they are saying, "Oh yeah, you think you can use the street to ride your bike, well watch this!" Then procede to stand in front of me. I promptly told them to **** off and that they could have gotten hurt. I didn't say anything to the lady yesterday because I was struggling to keep my bike up right. Making myself more visible will do nothing because they already see me.
What should I do?
What should I do?
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I just yell, "COMIN THRU!"
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I relate. Pedestrians are a scourge. At least you haven't had someone jump off the sidewalk and yell "Boo" or some such idiotic thing to try to make you jump, or worse, like a buddy of mine, some guy jumped off the sidewalk and gave him a hard right hook to the face and attempted to steal his bike.
I'd say if there is no motor traffic coming from behind, get well out into the lane. Yell something like "Hey!". Wave frantically. Anything to get their attention when you see those cues that they are likely to j-walk.
I'd say if there is no motor traffic coming from behind, get well out into the lane. Yell something like "Hey!". Wave frantically. Anything to get their attention when you see those cues that they are likely to j-walk.
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Usually they don't see you and with road tires, they definitely don't hear you. You have to let the know you're around soon enough that you can dodge their dumb moves.
They need time to
1] be ware of you,
2] decide on an action,
3] take an action, and
you need time to
4] decide on an action
5] take an action.
When you break it down, you can see there has to be a long time sequence between the start of the sequence and the end. Peds don't like surprises any more than we do. Visual clues I have not found to be effective. Bright yellow moving at them is ignored. Definitely need an unusual alert. Most effective is audio communication and you hope they aren't deaf.
1. bell [ problem is many will not associate this sound with bike until too late ]
2. "coming thru", "on your left", "look out", "hello", etc
3. zsounds truck type air horn. [ problem is not first reaction. They will jump out of way, but second. I jumped away from a semi and you're just a bike. ugh...]
I have bell, but found voice to be best solution for peds. Later plan to get zsounds air horn for drivers on cell phones.
They need time to
1] be ware of you,
2] decide on an action,
3] take an action, and
you need time to
4] decide on an action
5] take an action.
When you break it down, you can see there has to be a long time sequence between the start of the sequence and the end. Peds don't like surprises any more than we do. Visual clues I have not found to be effective. Bright yellow moving at them is ignored. Definitely need an unusual alert. Most effective is audio communication and you hope they aren't deaf.
1. bell [ problem is many will not associate this sound with bike until too late ]
2. "coming thru", "on your left", "look out", "hello", etc
3. zsounds truck type air horn. [ problem is not first reaction. They will jump out of way, but second. I jumped away from a semi and you're just a bike. ugh...]
I have bell, but found voice to be best solution for peds. Later plan to get zsounds air horn for drivers on cell phones.
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I guess I need to start being more vocal. I'm just so surprised by the fact that so many people don't mind walking in front of a 200lb object moving 20km/h after making eye contact and clearing seeing my intended path, then crossing it, illegally, i might add.
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In Boston, bikers "share" sidewalks with sleep walkers. When looking at the backs of sleep walkers, I use the brass model of the Incredibel and reward their sideway move with a "Thanks!". When riding head-on and looking at sleepwalkers' heads down and their eyes riveted to the sidewalk or when their heads are attached to a cell phone, I use a horn (while playing a fugue on the brake levers). (I also use the horn when a Rattus Norvegicus is running across my path when I'm spinning down a Fenway street.) When commuting at night on sidewalks and narrow-bridge walks, I use a Cygolight 15-watt setting, pointed down so the sleepwalker doesn't act like a deer frozen in the headlight. On Fenway (mugger) trails, I use the 25-watt setting, not pointed down. When approaching a crowd of thugs or a drunken crowd of college kids, I brake, and let them pass me (with a cartridge of pepper spray strapped to my left glove). You probably don't need the pepper spray, but check out the following for bells and horns.
https://sportsbay.com/bellsandhorns.html
On a positive, note, pedestrians can be a blessing. I frequently run errands on my 1984 Raleigh Technium single-speed, negotiating my way through thousands of students on the BU campus. This is an incredible (but not Incredibel ;-) training experience. Bring on the single-track after weaving and broken-field running along Commonwealth Avenue at high noon!
https://sportsbay.com/bellsandhorns.html
On a positive, note, pedestrians can be a blessing. I frequently run errands on my 1984 Raleigh Technium single-speed, negotiating my way through thousands of students on the BU campus. This is an incredible (but not Incredibel ;-) training experience. Bring on the single-track after weaving and broken-field running along Commonwealth Avenue at high noon!
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Pedestrians? What are they?
--From the land of cars and 45mph streets
--From the land of cars and 45mph streets
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Originally Posted by Leo C. Driscoll
In Boston, bikers "share" sidewalks with sleep walkers.
It sounds like you have nothing but problems with your illegal sidewalk riding. Perhaps you should think about getting in the street where you belong. It's actually safer. Here's a short little pamphlet that will tell you what you need to know about safely riding in traffic: https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
Last edited by bostontrevor; 12-07-04 at 02:19 PM.
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Originally Posted by Leo C. Driscoll
In Boston, bikers "share" sidewalks with sleep walkers. When looking at the backs of sleep walkers, I use the brass model of the Incredibel and reward their sideway move with a "Thanks!". When riding head-on and looking at sleepwalkers' heads down and their eyes riveted to the sidewalk or when their heads are attached to a cell phone, I use a horn (while playing a fugue on the brake levers). (I also use the horn when a Rattus Norvegicus is running across my path when I'm spinning down a Fenway street.) When commuting at night on sidewalks and narrow-bridge walks, I use a Cygolight 15-watt setting, pointed down so the sleepwalker doesn't act like a deer frozen in the headlight. On Fenway (mugger) trails, I use the 25-watt setting, not pointed down. When approaching a crowd of thugs or a drunken crowd of college kids, I brake, and let them pass me (with a cartridge of pepper spray strapped to my left glove). You probably don't need the pepper spray, but check out the following for bells and horns.
https://sportsbay.com/bellsandhorns.html
On a positive, note, pedestrians can be a blessing. I frequently run errands on my 1984 Raleigh Technium single-speed, negotiating my way through thousands of students on the BU campus. This is an incredible (but not Incredibel ;-) training experience. Bring on the single-track after weaving and broken-field running along Commonwealth Avenue at high noon!
https://sportsbay.com/bellsandhorns.html
On a positive, note, pedestrians can be a blessing. I frequently run errands on my 1984 Raleigh Technium single-speed, negotiating my way through thousands of students on the BU campus. This is an incredible (but not Incredibel ;-) training experience. Bring on the single-track after weaving and broken-field running along Commonwealth Avenue at high noon!
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Reminds me biking home one day. 2 people are on the trail going the same direction that I am in both wearing headphones.. I rang my bell and said behind you. Could they here me, nope, they were in deep conversation and I could clearly here the music on one of them. Still haven't figured out why they even needed headphones for when they are talking. The shoulder was grass so I just went that way and cleared them. I guess I spooked them and then they guy has the nerve to start yelling at me to tell them that I was behind them. I think I will get a air horn and save it incase I see them then, I will let them know when I'm behind them.
#12
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i'm from philly so i changed my "HEY" to a "YO" (in honor of rocky)
my vocal chords are my bell; it works quite well and is easily customizable to fit any situation!
my vocal chords are my bell; it works quite well and is easily customizable to fit any situation!
#13
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Hate to be the naysayer here, but don't peds have right of way?
Sure it is a pain, but probably on the same scale of us jumping in front of some auto barreling along at 30MPH when we "claim a lane."
Sure it is stupid, but too many folks equate bikes as toys, so they are not apt to do the math and realize that the oncoming force could be quite extreme.
I know this puts bikes in a strange ROW situation... We have to watch for cars 'cause "jonny cager" is just too stupid to understand ROW, and we have to watch out for peds because somebody has to.
BTW I sail too, so all this Right of Way stuff turns out to be pretty much the same for me... Motorboaters are "stupid stinkpotters" and fishermen and kayaks and small boats have ROW over sailboats. At least bikes don't have to worry about port and starboard ROW too...
Sure it is a pain, but probably on the same scale of us jumping in front of some auto barreling along at 30MPH when we "claim a lane."
Sure it is stupid, but too many folks equate bikes as toys, so they are not apt to do the math and realize that the oncoming force could be quite extreme.
I know this puts bikes in a strange ROW situation... We have to watch for cars 'cause "jonny cager" is just too stupid to understand ROW, and we have to watch out for peds because somebody has to.
BTW I sail too, so all this Right of Way stuff turns out to be pretty much the same for me... Motorboaters are "stupid stinkpotters" and fishermen and kayaks and small boats have ROW over sailboats. At least bikes don't have to worry about port and starboard ROW too...
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Originally Posted by genec
Hate to be the naysayer here, but don't peds have right of way?
Sure it is a pain, but probably on the same scale of us jumping in front of some auto barreling along at 30MPH when we "claim a lane."
Sure it is stupid, but too many folks equate bikes as toys, so they are not apt to do the math and realize that the oncoming force could be quite extreme.
I know this puts bikes in a strange ROW situation... We have to watch for cars 'cause "jonny cager" is just too stupid to understand ROW, and we have to watch out for peds because somebody has to.
BTW I sail too, so all this Right of Way stuff turns out to be pretty much the same for me... Motorboaters are "stupid stinkpotters" and fishermen and kayaks and small boats have ROW over sailboats. At least bikes don't have to worry about port and starboard ROW too...
Sure it is a pain, but probably on the same scale of us jumping in front of some auto barreling along at 30MPH when we "claim a lane."
Sure it is stupid, but too many folks equate bikes as toys, so they are not apt to do the math and realize that the oncoming force could be quite extreme.
I know this puts bikes in a strange ROW situation... We have to watch for cars 'cause "jonny cager" is just too stupid to understand ROW, and we have to watch out for peds because somebody has to.
BTW I sail too, so all this Right of Way stuff turns out to be pretty much the same for me... Motorboaters are "stupid stinkpotters" and fishermen and kayaks and small boats have ROW over sailboats. At least bikes don't have to worry about port and starboard ROW too...
There was a famous case in St Louis several years back in which a visiting pedestrian advocate, Susie Stephens, was killed in downtown St Louis, crossing in a pedestrian crosswalk, with the green light, in broad daylight, by a commercial bus driver turning left into the crosswalk. According to the driver, "A head suddenly appeared in my windshield". Her body was crushed underneath the wheels of the bus and she was dead at the scene. The bus driver was charged with "failure to yield". Presumably, if this had happened mid-block, there would not even be misdemeanor charges filed.
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Originally Posted by genec
Hate to be the naysayer here, but don't peds have right of way?
#16
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Originally Posted by Wulfheir
I've only been biking for the last 6 months or so. In that time I have had far more close encounters with people just walking out in front of me, than cars. I'm not talking about them using marked crosswalks. They have the right of way, that's a given. I have seen this happen many times, and yesterday it was done on snow/ice and could easily have caused me to bail, or hit her. Pedestrian walking on sidewalk, does a quick check up and down the street and begins to j-walk, right IN FRONT of me. This is in the afternoon, well lit. A 12-year old did it to me a couple of weeks ago with his friend, it's like they are saying, "Oh yeah, you think you can use the street to ride your bike, well watch this!" Then procede to stand in front of me. I promptly told them to **** off and that they could have gotten hurt. I didn't say anything to the lady yesterday because I was struggling to keep my bike up right. Making myself more visible will do nothing because they already see me.
What should I do?
What should I do?
Pedestrians! A plague almost as bad as squirrels! (See https://www.chainreaction.com/squirrels.htm for details on this menace!) I have had whole flocks of pedestrians scatter in front of me in every conceivable directions including straight up! I came upon a herd of 4 pedestrians once, called out "On your left!" and had them go in 7 different directions!
Once, while riding in Downtown Denver, I turn right from 17th Street to Tremont (properly and legally) at about 15 miles per hour. Three or four car lengths from the corner, I heard a woman calling to friends on my right just as she darted between two parked cars and she body checked me in a manner that would put a hockey player to shame! I went down and she came right on down with me. She popped up, asked if I was alright, I mumbled something about I think so and she took off like a startled deer. I still have the image of her bounding across 3 lanes of traffic without so much as a run in her nylons while I was laying on the road with a left leg that looked like it had been attacked by a power sander! She even managed to bend the crank arm on my bike!
About the only thing you can do to deal with them is to watch out for them and assume that they are as dumb as a post. Either that or assume that they are part of an evil plot out to kill the cyclists of the world.
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I've noticed something else that I find rather curious. Joggers in my area like to use the road instead of the sidewalks on residential streets. They jog into oncoming traffic, which I understand is what peds should do on roads with no sidewalk. However there IS a sidewalk.
This is particularly bothersome to me when I have to watch now for joggers coming at me AND be wary of cars passing me. What gives? Isn't the sidewalk built for foot traffic? One day I'll turn around and have a little chat, as I'm really curious about the motivation.
Is this how drivers feel about me on the road?
This is particularly bothersome to me when I have to watch now for joggers coming at me AND be wary of cars passing me. What gives? Isn't the sidewalk built for foot traffic? One day I'll turn around and have a little chat, as I'm really curious about the motivation.
Is this how drivers feel about me on the road?
#18
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I juat say excuse me, most of the time they are nto deaf so they hear me coming wihtout saying anything, but if im pissed i just say eithor just plain MOVE, or sometime MOVE YER A*S
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Originally Posted by Wulfheir
No they don't. Not mid block. It is also my responsibility to practice due-diligence in avoiding a collision. I upheld my part of the deal after they had not upheld theirs. It's just frustrating when they put me in a situation like that. They are putting themselves, and me, in harm's way.
Go back, read thread from beginning... "oh, jay walkers... " Shoot, they're fair game.
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Originally Posted by AJRoberts
I've noticed something else that I find rather curious. Joggers in my area like to use the road instead of the sidewalks on residential streets. They jog into oncoming traffic, which I understand is what peds should do on roads with no sidewalk. However there IS a sidewalk.
This is particularly bothersome to me when I have to watch now for joggers coming at me AND be wary of cars passing me. What gives? Isn't the sidewalk built for foot traffic? One day I'll turn around and have a little chat, as I'm really curious about the motivation.
Is this how drivers feel about me on the road?
This is particularly bothersome to me when I have to watch now for joggers coming at me AND be wary of cars passing me. What gives? Isn't the sidewalk built for foot traffic? One day I'll turn around and have a little chat, as I'm really curious about the motivation.
Is this how drivers feel about me on the road?
I can speak to that. There's a strong recommendation from doctors and fitness experts regarding running that it's better to run on asphalt than concrete. Concrete is an extremely hard surface, and knee joint life is prolonged by running on softer surfaces.
Hope that helps.
#21
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By far they are a bigger problem than cages in Philly. I usually yell "Bike!" at them. Then try to come as close as possible to hitting them without actually doing it. Old ladies and pregnant women are of course excepted from the latter. I think they expect that you are able to stop faster than cars (not true) from the same speed.
Plus, Sheldon has taken care of this: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/lirpa.html#bayonetz
Plus, Sheldon has taken care of this: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/lirpa.html#bayonetz
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Originally Posted by traindabrain
I can speak to that. There's a strong recommendation from doctors and fitness experts regarding running that it's better to run on asphalt than concrete. Concrete is an extremely hard surface, and knee joint life is prolonged by running on softer surfaces.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
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Get the Air Zounds horn. It's loud and will probably scare the crap out of them.
I also yell really loudly and let them know I'm not stopping, so move it! Actually, I don't say all that, I just yell "MOVE IT!" when I'm about 20 yards away, and people usually scoot as I'm barrelling towards them.
Koffee
I also yell really loudly and let them know I'm not stopping, so move it! Actually, I don't say all that, I just yell "MOVE IT!" when I'm about 20 yards away, and people usually scoot as I'm barrelling towards them.
Koffee
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Originally Posted by koffee brown
I just yell "MOVE IT!" when I'm about 20 yards away, and people usually scoot as I'm barrelling towards them.
Koffee
Koffee
Maybe one of these?
https://i1.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/57/d5/4d_1.JPG
Last edited by vrkelley; 12-07-04 at 08:36 PM.
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Originally Posted by Wulfheir
I've only been biking for the last 6 months or so. In that time I have had far more close encounters with people just walking out in front of me, than cars.
What should I do?
What should I do?
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No worries
No worries