b-ride

this is a good point, but i just need to chime in here too. i know that pedestrians have the right of way on walk signals, at crosswalks and at intersections. that doesn't mean they can just wander out without looking. all road users have to practice due diligence, be they drivers, cyclists or pedestrians. there's plenty of times that, despite a ped's right of way, they could be hit by me on my bike or a car, if they're not looking. right turns of course and bikes and cars making left turns, especially when the light is getting stale or is yellow.

if a ped wants to jaywalk wihtout looking because they are too stupid, too busy with their phone/pda or ipod, i have no problems with ringing my bell, swerving close, yelling or simply just holding my line, to force them to stop or move quicker.

it's bad enough that drivers seem to have little regard for cyclists, but it would be nice if peds would realize that i may not be 2000 lbs of metal death, but if i hit them, it's going to hurt.

like my friend, who was going uphill, on his fixy, and a lady blindly stepped out into the road and he clipped her in the head with his elbow (he's a big dude, she was a small lady). no chance to stop, no warning at all and she ended up down and out, bleeding. they had to call an ambulance. i think she'll think twice before entering the road without looking from now on.

Zombie Carl

Between myself, my bike, and my bag we're a 260 lbs. cannonball moving at ~20 mph. Pity the ped that steps in front.

humancongereel

i dunno, you can get hurt, too. think about your forward momentum suddenly being arrested at ~20mph, while strapped to a piece of metal that may come hurtling at you as well. in fact, i've heard more injury on the cyclist end of ped/cyclist collisions.

either way, the collisions are something to be avoided, i'll do what i can to avoid hitting a ped, but goddammit, some of them need wake the hell up.

on the subject of right of way, it varies from place to place, right? in some places, even jaywalkers have right of way. and in those places, i've just said "right of way isn't the right to be a jerk. don't get in my way. don't be stupid".

gah, riding all the time has made me lose much patience for idiots be they on foot, in cars, on bikes, in offices, in cop cars, or...whatever they do.

xylophonecks

+1

humancongereel

that's not to say i'm never an idiot, but when you're out there and it feels like you're fighting for your life every day, it sure sharpens you up, and you realize you have to actually pay attention, be on your toes, look one move ahead, etc...i'm usually not an idiot when i'm on the bike. it's usually just especially on the interwebz.

Serendipper 

new song title:


"patience for idiots"

TRaffic Jammer

In order to master the cement video game, Messin'TM, player has to comes to terms with all forms of street life. This will allow the messer to level up and ride for years. I have waxing/waning amounts of pity/compassion/rage for these poor creatures going back 20years when I first learned of their dangerous habits in traffic.... imagine having to allow the ends of your legs to touch the ground with every movement to get around. *poor *******s* Lemmings......

Prime

Man. **** pedestrians and people in cars. I was riding out of a parking lot, and this guy is driving in his car, looking down at his sandwich, trying to take a bite... WHILE MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANES MIND YOU!

F-in idiots...

I have no sympathy towards pedestrians or drivers...

If a driver, notices me, and makes an effort to drive safer or wat not, since Im a cyclist, I'll say thanks with a wave and say thanks.

People cross the streets not looking both ways, or looking one way and not the other (towards on coming traffic from the lane theyre trying to merge into,) IMO deserve to get hit by a truck. They dont take the initiative to drive safely, for THEMSELVES or anyone else.

Hey, if I were a semi, and they made watever moves they did (crossing by only looking one way, and pulling out while looking back, etc etc...) theyd be dead...
They should feel lucky that Im a bicycle and not a ****in truck...


These people take life for granted... Making the same mistakes DAILY...

Wheres Jigsaw...

iamarapgod

i love hearing stories involving risky shift/group polarization

Batson

i used one of these for a whie. no joke whistle. its loud as hell. i stopped using it when it didnt work in getting the attention of a jaywalker on the phone.

humancongereel

that whistle reminds me of quicksilver.

Batson

seriously, that thing is deafening. your ears will ring when you use it.

TRaffic Jammer

I tried a whistle for about a week, I couldn't ride around with it in my teeth. Abandoned it as a good idea with a bad application.

humancongereel

^^that's why i've never put down money for one, i could see it not being as functional as you'd think. like my thing: wouldn't getting it to your mouth take as much time as yelling "hey, ****o!" or something?

TRaffic Jammer

The yell always works.... but I must admit a stealthy buzz can correct such dangerous walking behavior, *snap fingers* THAT fast. Specially when you can make 'em jump from fright while on the yellow line. No silly ped, you AREN'T safe there either.

kjohnnytarr

I sometimes yell back "good thing I wasn't in a truck!"

Gets 'em thinking.

BLIMP

The fox40's are a good quality shrill whistle, but have nowhere near the attention getting capacity of Storm's Safety whistle. Loudest whistle on the market.

And that is the opinion of someone who used make a living out of yelling at people for drowning.

/dork

~Stuart~

hahahaha while i was riding home, i watched some ped litter, so as i passedhim (he was jwalking) i yelled "DONT ****ING LITTER" and scared the **** outta him... he didnt see me coming

jakeaaron

My former housemate was crossing the street to go to the store, and noticed some jackass drop his cup out his window at the light he picked it up and dropped it back in their car "hey I think you dropped this" it was funny as hell.
Another friend of mine had a cup thrown at him while riding, he stopped to pick it up and was gonna catch 'em at the next light and just drop it back in their window but he was on his girlfriends bike and didn't catch 'em before the light change.

fixedmonkey

Riding in the bike lane on Division over by the alliance bakery some lady who just came from a chiropracter jumped out in front of me. I hit her, she spun around 3 times and landed on her large ass.

happytruck

a homeless man in my neighborhood stole one of these and rode around on a bike using it @ night
it whipped up the local university's cops

JoeyBike

To TRaffic Jammer:

I return the favor my friend!

Enjoy

https://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=579261

TRaffic Jammer

Gold Jerry, gold!

I'll never EVER fail to be mystified as to how someone can step off the sidewalk in traffic while looking in the opposite direction that danger is coming from. This from a guy who was trained in the Black Art of Jaywalking in downtown Montreal. There one can practice cleaning a bumper with your pantleg and nobody bats a eyelash. Ah those were good times, to be the messenger haulin' ass, splittin' the lanes....... why helllllo Mr. Ped., shall we dance?

JoeyBike

Knew you would like it.

I have a few ped tales to tell, but I would be a poser on a fixie thread. One of the happiest days of my life, when I was a lad of 15, was acquiring my first 10-speed road bike. Been in love with multiple gears ever since. Variety is the spice of life!

Actually, I own a single speed. Freewheel though. But it's a Joe Breeze folding "clown bike" called Itzy. Few style points. Responsive as hell though with 14 inch wheels!

Later

TRaffic Jammer

S'ok.... I'm fixin' on having mine fixed next year sometime. I likes my SSs