Looking both ways, young woman said no

L

LoveTulips

Senior Member
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Ok, I just could not believe this, maybe it's just me, you guys will have to weigh in. In my local FB community group, someone was saying about the lousy drivers we have, etc. which I totally agree (even though I don't drive but hubby says they're terrible where we live.) Anyways, so then, which always happens, other people in the group were saying some pedestrians are not mindful when crossing the road as well.

Anyways, to make a long story short, I jumped in and said that too many people are looking at their phones and/or have ear plugs in as well and not paying attention. Well this young woman replied to me saying that if she is walking and has the right of way (green light or crosswalk), she does not have to look up or sideways or anything, she has the right of way and no one should run her down. Well, I thought that was about the stupidest comment I ever heard.

I replied to her and said how about if the driver of a car was drunk or experiencing a medical emergency and was coming at you even if you had the right of way? If you were looking about you, you might avoid being dead!!
 

I agree with you. She is taking her life in her hands each time she walks through an intersection. However, there are some cities where pedestrians and cyclists are absolutely militant about having the right of way without having to take cars into consideration. Seattle is one.
 
LoveTulips said:
Ok, I just could not believe this, maybe it's just me, you guys will have to weigh in. In my local FB community group, someone was saying about the lousy drivers we have, etc. which I totally agree (even though I don't drive but hubby says they're terrible where we live.) Anyways, so then, which always happens, other people in the group were saying some pedestrians are not mindful when crossing the road as well.

Anyways, to make a long story short, I jumped in and said that too many people are looking at their phones and/or have ear plugs in as well and not paying attention. Well this young woman replied to me saying that if she is walking and has the right of way (green light or crosswalk), she does not have to look up or sideways or anything, she has the right of way and no one should run her down. Well, I thought that was about the stupidest comment I ever heard.

I replied to her and said how about if the driver of a car was drunk or experiencing a medical emergency and was coming at you even if you had the right of way? If you were looking about you, you might avoid being dead!!
Click to expand...
I was almost mowed down several times when crossing the street on the way to work by inconsiderate drivers who were in such a hurry they didn't care who they maimed. The only reason I'm not dead is because I watch out carefully for those idiots instead of paying attention to my phone or radio. I was one step away from being struck by a driver on a phone and turning left. when she had the Red Light and I had Walk. Do these people who think they are immune have their Wills and Estates in order?
 

The logic of the young mind can be amazing. As pointed out she could be dead right.

Reminds me of when I was in my late 20's a guy I worked with was telling me he was trying to teach his young wife to drive. She pulled out in front of a cement truck that damn near ran them over. The wife's thought was it's a big truck so it has big brakes
 
I wear earbuds when I take my walks but I pay very close attention to the traffic and assume that drivers will do dumb things (run red lights, not make a full stop when turning right at a red light etc). I have the same attitude when I drive also.


My mistake has been when I cross a parking lot as a short cut when taking my walks. In the past I really didn't pay much attention because I usually take my walks early in the morning before the parking lots get busy. I learned my lesson though. Once I was taking a walk, paying full attention to the podcast I was listening to and I happened to look up and notice a car speeding through the parking lot with me right in front of it's path. Since then I do pay attention when walking in empty parking lots.

The girl is wrong with her thinking and I hope she doesn't end up finding out the bad way. My guess is she probably doesn't drive so doesn't have that "driver's mentality" when walking.
 
Not only roads. The bike path I use everyday is a wonderful nature tour around the metro area. But, one has to be very aware, just like on regular streets. Two of the biggest offenders are riders training for races and e-bikes. I have seen both of these types taking blind curves at dangerous speeds. Seems like the more expensive the bike, the faster they ride.
Also, I avoid biking the major streets in the city. With so many distracted drivers, it’s a death wish. Lane drifters and the “right hook” at intersections - really scary.
 
EmptyCup said:
Not only roads. The bike path I use everyday is a wonderful nature tour around the metro area. But, one has to be very aware, just like on regular streets. Two of the biggest offenders are riders training for races and e-bikes. I have seen both of these types taking blind curves at dangerous speeds. Seems like the more expensive the bike, the faster they ride.
Also, I avoid biking the major streets in the city. With so many distracted drivers, it’s a death wish. Lane drifters and the “right hook” at intersections - really scary.
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We were driving on a busy street last week, when a crowd of cyclists came barreling down the street. They were not using any rules for either bicycles or automobiles, and many of them were facing oncoming traffic. Drivers were forced to pull over even though it put many them in an awkward position. Several of the cyclists were nearly struck by cars that didn't have enough time to react.

Hubs was furious and called the police (non emergency) and complained. Of course they could do nothing. This arrogance was astounding. I wondered what the cyclists told themselves to justify their behavior?
 
last job was teacher aide at a local HS. we (aides) got cut loose about 10 minutes before the kids. you hoped to ge outta Dodge before they hit the sidewalks. had several times when kids just walked out into the street without looking in either directions... often without looking up from their phones. i always had to be ready for that and occasionally would just lay on the horn. would get a dirty look from kid and almost hoped someone would "report" me.
 
carouselsilver said:
We were driving on a busy street last week, when a crowd of cyclists came barreling down the street. They were not using any rules for either bicycles or automobiles, and many of them were facing oncoming traffic. Drivers were forced to pull over even though it put many them in an awkward position. Several of the cyclists were nearly struck by cars that didn't have enough time to react.

Hubs was furious and called the police (non emergency) and complained. Of course they could do nothing. This arrogance was astounding. I wondered what the cyclists told themselves to justify their behavior?
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Probably club riders. A former co-worker was a retired professional cyclist. They told me it is a very macho and assertive culture. This behavior would not be surprising.
 
Yeah, she's a stupid twit IMO. Common sense. You can't buy it.

When walking to the fake lakes, I cross the street. I'm very careful. I'm also careful when driving. The homeless pay no attention on foot or on bikes. Some time ago a female jogger was hit and killed on a busy road not far from me. What the exact circumstances were, I don't know.
 
LoveTulips said:
Ok, I just could not believe this, maybe it's just me, you guys will have to weigh in. In my local FB community group, someone was saying about the lousy drivers we have, etc. which I totally agree (even though I don't drive but hubby says they're terrible where we live.) Anyways, so then, which always happens, other people in the group were saying some pedestrians are not mindful when crossing the road as well.

Anyways, to make a long story short, I jumped in and said that too many people are looking at their phones and/or have ear plugs in as well and not paying attention. Well this young woman replied to me saying that if she is walking and has the right of way (green light or crosswalk), she does not have to look up or sideways or anything, she has the right of way and no one should run her down. Well, I thought that was about the stupidest comment I ever heard.

I replied to her and said how about if the driver of a car was drunk or experiencing a medical emergency and was coming at you even if you had the right of way? If you were looking about you, you might avoid being dead!!
Click to expand...
The crosswalk is just paint on a street. It is not a force field.

The stop sign 🛑 is an order to drivers, but bad drivers, drunk drivers, speeding drivers, will ignore the order.

Having the Right of Way 🔀 while driving is a legal concept, but guess what? Many drivers do not know about that legal concept.

Defensive driving, walking, and bike riding is always making the assumption that no one else has any idea of the rules of the road.
 
EmptyCup said:
Probably club riders. A former co-worker was a retired professional cyclist. They told me it is a very macho and assertive culture. This behavior would not be surprising.
Click to expand...

Arrogant is the word.

I am a former bike rider and I drummed it into my head that though I do have "rights", I also have "obligations", which are to obey the same laws as motorists WHEN I am on the roadway.....stop at stopsigns, don't blast through intersections when you have a red light, yield to motorists when they have the right-of-way, YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS (yelling GET OUT OF THE WAY! doesn't cut it).

Be courteous just as you want others to be courteous to you.
 
EmptyCup said:
Probably club riders. A former co-worker was a retired professional cyclist. They told me it is a very macho and assertive culture. This behavior would not be surprising.
Click to expand...
Tell me about it... In my career I had several run ins with some of these folks.... even had one scream at me that he had the right of way after nearly hitting him..... I was driving an Ambulance, Lights and sirens at the time.... going to a Bicycle wreck where the guy blew a stop sign and hit a passing car... But they were having a race on a public road was both their excuses...
 
EmptyCup said:
Not only roads. The bike path I use everyday is a wonderful nature tour around the metro area. But, one has to be very aware, just like on regular streets. Two of the biggest offenders are riders training for races and e-bikes. I have seen both of these types taking blind curves at dangerous speeds. Seems like the more expensive the bike, the faster they ride.
Also, I avoid biking the major streets in the city. With so many distracted drivers, it’s a death wish. Lane drifters and the “right hook” at intersections - really scary.
Click to expand...
I live near a lake and walk the trails frequently. During the pandemic it was very crowded. I always walk on the right and cyclists are supposed to yell "on your left". I once got cursed at by a cyclist because I crossed from one path to another at an intersection of two paths. :rolleyes:
 
Most likely 99% of the drivers are capable of being distracted by a bunch of Ways. Other drivers included with what they do.
Maybe Shut off the Smart phone when ya get in the vehicle is a better way to answer 33% of what is happening on the byway!
Sure it will have to become an amendment to the constitution and the Courts will also mess with it for 150 years. U know the
LEO also are on the waves constantly ! Of course that is not Comedy speaking. Today a crash and break it piece of junk with
4 passengers driving 40 mph on the expressway and driver is looking down at his nutz. sure he was reading where to turn and
go to a chicks place most likely... TGIF plan for that bunch in that car. I didn't run over the top of them. .... :coffee:
 

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