Random Rants ΠΑ: That's a paddlin'

[rah]

I'll admit to being a frogger. But many in crowded cities do the same.

 

[Lexicus]

With my obsession with following rules, I'd rather walk considerably out of my way to cross at a light/crosswalk than to just start playing frogger, lol.

I generally try to optimize my walking routes so that I don't have to wait to cross any street, ever. I also ride my bike a lot and I just treat everything like a Yield sign when I'm riding my bike: if there's a red light I'll slow down enough to make sure I can stop if someone is actually coming, but I don't bother stopping if the way is clear. Sometimes I do have to actually follow traffic laws but only when there's enough traffic to make it the only safe option.

 

[rah]

I generally try to optimize my walking routes so that I don't have to wait to cross any street,

A man after my own heart. I too have memorized most of the light timings near where I work in the city.

 

[AdamCrock]

People think that they got split attention, but actually they don't Research it if You don't believe me. I like what rah said - looking at phone in public makes one more likely a target.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I'm terrified of crosswalks. Multiple times I've almost been hit even though I was careful to look before crossing.

 

[MaryKB]

I generally try to optimize my walking routes so that I don't have to wait to cross any street, ever. I also ride my bike a lot and I just treat everything like a Yield sign when I'm riding my bike: if there's a red light I'll slow down enough to make sure I can stop if someone is actually coming, but I don't bother stopping if the way is clear. Sometimes I do have to actually follow traffic laws but only when there's enough traffic to make it the only safe option.

I generally try to drive when I can But often enough I'll be walking about, especially when I'm visiting a large city.

Oh dear, PLEASE don't do that! As a bicycle rider you're supposed to follow traffic laws, I'm pretty sure you can be ticketed for running a red light. I feel that's really hazardous behavior you're doing there

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I jaywalk several times a day on average. It's funny because I grew up 40 minutes from NY and everyone is always like "New York City natives don't follow traffic signals when they cross the street!" I was never a NYC native but never had trouble fitting in in that respect. I take a secret, terrible pleasure in walking up to a group of people waiting at a light with no cars coming and not even breaking stride as I pass them and cross the street...

With my obsession with following rules, I'd rather walk considerably out of my way to cross at a light/crosswalk than to just start playing frogger, lol.

I jaywalk whenever there isn't a crossing withing a block of me but any time I'm at an actual crossing, I wait for the light.

I stop at all lights on my bike.

 

[MaryKB]

I'm terrified of crosswalks. Multiple times I've almost been hit even though I was careful to look before crossing.

When my great grandmother was 93 years old (and still very spry!), she was crossing at a crosswalk and was hit by an off duty police officer who was speeding and ran the red light. And the city of Hamilton tried to drag out her lawsuit hoping she'd pass before it could be settled. That accident took years off her life

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Considering you say you keep your phone locked up and turned off, you don't seem to have enough relational experience to suggest to me how I should use mine. Your "advice" sounds much more like a value judgement than anything else.

You seem to be out of touch with the importance of modern cell phone usage.

Ummmmm....some of us may have accumulated enough "relational experience" to be considered reasonably expert before cell phones were invented.

Walking and talking to someone on the phone doesn't seem that different from walking and talking to someone right next to you. It's pretty normal behavior in my opinion and most people are perfectly capable walking and talking at the same time. So yeah, the girl who got her phone stolen, that isn't her fault. The guy who walked into a poll, well that's entirely on him

The most obvious difference is that the person walking and talking on the phone is alone. Two people distracted by each other are still a formidable target. If I can get close to someone alone without them paying attention there's nobody I don't believe I can take. While it is "normal behavior" it does require either a cavalier attitude towards personal safety or a faulty assessment of reality.

 

[tjs282]

I'm glad you brought that up because the car demons are trying to get the concept of "distracted pedestrians" to take off, thus blaming people who are hit by cars for having been hit by cars.

Here in Germany, native home of the Arschloch BMW-Fahrer, a car-driver will nonetheless (almost always) be held (mostly) responsible for any collision with a cyclist or pedestrian, (almost always) regardless of how stupidly and/or illegally said cyclist or pedestrian was comporting themselves at the time. A cyclist who hits a pedestrian will likewise be held to be (much) more responsible for the accident than the pedestrian.

The understanding is that the person wielding the faster/heavier vehicle bears proportionally more responsibility to keep that vehicle under control, and be aware of other road- (or footpath) users. However, if one party is using a phone (without a hands-free unit) while driving (or cycling), this will somewhat compound (or mitigate) culpability for any accident — and the cops will pull phone-records to check.

 

[Lexicus]

A man after my own heart. I too have memorized most of the light timings near where I work in the city.

Who said anything about light timings? I just cross opportunistically and devise my routes so I can always keep moving if I can't cross at any given moment.

Oh dear, PLEASE don't do that! As a bicycle rider you're supposed to follow traffic laws, I'm pretty sure you can be ticketed for running a red light. I feel that's really hazardous behavior you're doing there

I've been biking based on these principles for more than ten years, and while I've fallen off a few times the only times I get close to being hit by cars are when cars are obstructing the bike path.

 

[MaryKB]

It's just not proper! And also, just because you've been fortunate so far doesn't mean you'll be okay forever ...

 

[Synobun]

I see the "You youths are so much worse than how we were!" crowd is out today.

 

[Lexicus]

And also, just because you've been fortunate so far doesn't mean you'll be okay forever ...

Do you have a lot of experience biking in cities?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I see the "You youths are so much worse than how we were!" crowd is out today.

 

[MaryKB]

Do you have a lot of experience biking in cities?

I bicycle in my town, it's not a huge city but I often have to stop at lights or stop signs. I'd never dream of just riding right through!

 

[AdamCrock]

Arschloch

I dont imagine what that means but it definitely doesn't sound very flattering

 

[rah]

Who said anything about light timings? I just cross opportunistically and devise my routes so I can always keep moving if I can't cross at any given moment.

I guess I'm a tad more anal about it then. When I get to the first intersection based on what color the light is, I know what route and crossing I must do to avoid any red lights. Yes, another thing my wife makes fun of me for.

 

[Farm Boy]

without a hands-free unit

True here too and it's really really stupid. The problem isn't holding something small in your hand. The problem is being distracted by a conversation/exchange with a person who is not in your here and now.

 

[Lexicus]

I bicycle in my town, it's not a huge city but I often have to stop at lights or stop signs. I'd never dream of just riding right through!

Well, I don't "just ride right through," like I said, I slow down enough to stop if the way isn't clear.