Originally Posted by
Luddite
I was riding down Commercial (Vancouverites will know of which I speak) unlike the idiots I see riding their bikes on the sidewalks on Commercial, anyway, I digress.
A crackhead/drunk/semi-hobo guy dashed out in front of me (without warning) not in an intersection, completely and utterly jaywalking. He either saw me and didn't care, or didn't look in the first place. I had to pile on the brakes to avoid hitting him. I yelled "Use the crosswalk!" and he yelled "**** you, *****!" or words to that effect. Anyway, why do jaywalkers dash in front of us cyclists when they would never do that in front of a car in the same manner? I'm often a pedestrian and a definite jaywalker but I only cross when it's completely clear, I don't cut off cyclists etc.
Moral of the story, watch out for stupid jaywalkers on Commercial Drive, eh?
A lot of this is because people have over the last 50 years or so, become conditioned to listen for a motor vehicle engine when crossing the street, and they don't look anymore. Of course the increasing popularity of bicycles, hybrids and electric scooters mean that not looking is going to result in some non-looking pedestrians ending up with their names in the newspaper, and some will end up featured on the dearly departed page.
