I’m so sick of crossing at a CROSSWALK and being cut off by a car that’s apparently in so much of a hurry that it’s worth risking my life. Or crossing a CROSSWALK and having a car zip by real fast behind me as soon as they feel they have enough space to do it.
The law says that when someone is crossing at a CROSSWALK you have to wait until they’ve crossed completely. What if I turned around because I forgot something and I get hit? Or what if I don’t see the car that does to get ahead of me real fast and I get sideswiped?
This city has some of the worst driving I’ve ever seen.
Normally I’m listening to my iPod when I walk and don’t hear what’s coming around me, but I look when I cross and the other day a car came out of nowhere after I looked and almost hit me…some 90 year old man with his 90 year old wife – at least she looked horrified, as if she knew he didn’t notice me.
I’m going to start carrying rocks in my pockets and next time some fuckwad decides to speed ahead of me at a crosswalk, or behind me, I’m going to throw a rock at their fucking car windows. LEARN TO DRIVE YOU FUCKING RETARDS!
—Stone Throwing Devil
This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2009.
While I completly agree with your position, as both a driver and walker, when I go to a crosswalk, I prefer to assume some douch is trying to run me down, I keep my senses on high alert approprialty and thus when some idiot does attempt to run me down, since I expected it, it tends not to bother me as much…
Man, ever try crossing one of the far too many crosswalks on pleasant street (same place that poor cheerleader was hit) It’s hell, cars don’t stop period..you have to actually physically walk out in the road to get them to stop, and then they curse and yell at you. I was crossing one of those crosswalks that have the pedestrian warnings hanging over the road and the guy actually stopped to let me cross which was nice, but then he flipped out at me as soon as I was on the other side of the road for not pressing the light button…I was just like, what the imaginary light button right there, sorry i tend to miss invisible fucking buttons you moron (of course i didn’t actually say that, wish I had)
I had someone have the nerve to yell at some older lady whom was crossing at the same time as myself to “hurry her ass up”. I noticed this upset her, and while Im not generally an aggressive person but I found myself kicking in his headlight…
How about spike strips that are raised a five seconds after the crosswalk lights go on?
I am 85 Kgs. A car weighs 500 kgs. What is going through a driver’s mind when they threaten pedestrians and cyclists and other motorists alike?
This is a small town/city folks. Relax and enjoy the community- my travels have told me that Nova Scotians are truly one of a kind. Example: Two cars meet at a 4 way stop. One gestures to the other to go- the other gestures for the other to go- pause – both begin to go and stop. Repeat. Then both laugh and one goes- then the other. How sweet is that? Personally I get a kick out of letting other people, bikes and cars go ahead of me, especially if it is raining. I do it overseas and people marvel- some even smile.
What’s the hurry? Leave earlier folks. Try and keep the moral high ground- I know it is not easy but it feels good.
But know if you eliminate your sense of hearing you are putting YOURSELF in jeopardy and the rest of us in a very bad position indeed. Those that throw stones- get their ass kicked. Keep your stick on the ice, K?
Another warning however goes out to cars that allow pedestrians to cross, especially in two lanes, .Car Stopping + person crossing road+ other car coming, not seeing the person= disaster.
Hey, uh, Michael, you need to rethink those figures. A Formula 1 car weighs 500 KG, but a family sedan weighs about 2000 KG.
That’s a good one, No Dogma. Or perhaps angry lawn knomes?
…or disgruntled wooden butterflies.
you people get off lucky.try crossing titus and main ave. in fairview sometime.i have damn near run over just about everytime i try to cross.and so have other people there.either by the fuck heads on their cels,or by the inattentive jerkwads that think they own the fucken roads.newsflash boys and girls,i pay big fucken taxes too.slow the hell down,look around,or you will get a real nasty surprise,one day very soon.(hint,you will need a new windshield or side window).
They will got a lot more than that LS
Fuck titus and main, try willet and lacewood or PARKLAND AND LACEWOOD. FUCK. I’m surprised I’m still alive. I actually don’t even bother crossing there anymore and just cross up further on parkland (sans cross walk)…it’s sad because it’s actually safer to cross up there than it is at the actual intersection.
Somedays I really wish I carried rocks with me.
I’ve started using only intersections to cross anywhere. Much more regulated and usually you’re not the only one crossing so if they decide to go all GTA on me, I’ll have plenty-o-witnesses.
Not sure if they put a button there or not since last I was there, but for me, crossing Pleasant St by the rail bridge is the worst crosswalk in the city. It only ever gets used by people getting off the 60, and the bus stop, for some reason, is in front of the crosswalk. If the bus pulls out and stops for the crosswalk, cars zoom by it on the left because it’s a bus and discover why the bus was really stopped. It has to be seen to be believed.
You know it’s funny, as a person that walks to work daily, and walks downtown, I’ve only experienced one incident in the entire 15 years I’ve lived here!
I was always taught to look both way before crossing, wait and make sure that all traffic stopped at both ends, and to always PUSH that button that makes those lovely ambers flash.
zZz, you’re only supposed to use intersections to cross.
As a driver, I remember this one time that I got so fed up with the improper use of a crosswalk. People not pressing the button to activate the flashers. I decided to stop in the middle of an intersection, rolled down my window and demanded that person push the button. He refused of course and walked around my car. Luckily I was going somewhere down the street from that location. 5 mins later I see police and ambulance rushing by. I decided to look out and I could see they stopped by the crosswalk. My friend and I decided to walk up and investigate only to see the same person lying on the pavement. He was hit by a car. We talked to a couple of drivers that were on the scene, they both said he just darted out in front of the car and never activated the flashers!
Randomness, a guy did the same thing to me and there was no fucking button, not all crosswalks have buttons. Pleasant street, you do stop, and you do look both ways, but NOBODY stops to let you cross, you would be standing there for twenty minutes to cross on a spot that YOU have the right away if you didn’t somewhat wedge yourself onto the road.
I would just like to remind drivers that crossing guards do not (although most do) have to cross adults. we have a couple of crossing guards around here that will not put their sign out or press the button, nothing, if you are an adult alone. I don’t mind this except when drivers get mad at me and point to the gaurd. He will not use his visable powers to cross anyone unless they have a kid with them. The one at Stad on Gottingen is really bad for this.
fallingangels, I agree with you, some drivers are douches, in fact, most are actually around here. Not just to pedestrians, to other drivers even.
JMO, crossing guards are usually around schools, drives should be more attentive and should slow down when they see kids, even if they’re just on the sidewalk, you never know if one of them will dart in front of you. Not to mention, the kids could be horsing around and one could push the other into traffic, I saw that happen before.
But really, what’s with the drivers stopping in the middle of the road to talk to someone, practically paralyzing the entire street? pull over for god’s sake!!!
While I was driving in the rain to work yesterday some guy decided to not press the button and run across the street on Robie near the Ultramar. I am always on the lookout for pedestrians crossing, but please press the button if one is available to press! Then on my way home on North near the bridge 2 people wearing dark clothing decided to jay walk in the rainy foggy weather. Not a smart idea! Look both ways make sure I can see you too!
randomness, I meant that I don’t use designated crosswalks.
only vehicle intersections. I should have been more clear there, I suppose. So much for your mind-reading capabilities.
I agree with what you said Random my point was that drivers get mad at me when I cross the street while the guard stands there. He will not go on the street for adults. I’m ok with that I know how to cross a street safely. I just wanted those drivers that get pissed because I didn’t wait for him to officially stop the traffic for me to know he won’t.
I love it when people say “the car just came out of nowhere” If you are taking the time to make sure nothing(car)is coming then that wouldn’t happen.Cars just don’t appear they don’t move at light speed. I agree with randomness, stop look both ways and make sure traffic is stopped then cross the street. Bet you wont have any more close calls. Problem is nobody wants to wait that extra second anymore, everyone is in a big rush to get no where , be it while your walking , driving or biking.That’s why accidents happen. I think the pedestrians in this city are more brain dead then the drivers, but both have to smarten up and slow down.
Randomness “I decided to stop in the middle of an intersection, rolled down my window and demanded that person push the button.”
That relly seems like a smart thing to do… Clearly he waas an idiot, but does then yourself being an idiot make it any better? and you “demanded” he push the button? haha not that I wouldnt push the button, but if for some reason I forgot, I would love to have a conversation with someone with such a demand…
I find walking around downtown is A LOT safer than walking around in other neighbourhoods. Dartmouth is a nightmare to cross (esp on alderney), CP is full of asshatery and Fairview sucks too.
I’ve never almost been killed crossing anywhere DT, but I’ve probably nearly been clipped at least a dozen and a half times on Lacewood.
Let me tell ya, I always stop for people at crosswalks and at intersections. However, there are people, especially in Dartmouth, who actually think that a 5000 KG car can stop on a dime. I’m never surprised when hearing about poeple getting hit in this city because there are as many pedestrians breaking the law as there are drivers. For instance, the cross walk at Perks on lower water … its almost impossible to make a left hand turn there because people don’t pay attention to the corsswalk sign and just cross even when told not to. Then there’s buddy with the IPOD crossing in the middle of a city block and EXPECTING a car to stop for him .. yeah right!!! Pedestrians get away with bloody murder in this city and I’m truly surprised most of you do not get hit. Go to Montreal and Toronto, see if you’d survive there with your lack of Pedestrian skills. NOT LIKELY!!!! Halifax is no longer a small town, pedestrians and Sunday drivers need to catch a clue and get with the times!!!
For angered pedestrians: You could throw rocks, or you could do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPlITw1YPj0
For Halifax: All crosswalks not at intersections should have the overhead flashing lights if not a catwalk.
For Pretty Kitty: I believe it’s ‘asshattery’. 😉