Ok I’m a commuter. I admit it. I drive a car. all the time. I wouldn’t if I didn’t have to for my job and I hate my daily commute to work. I love being a pedestrian in this city. BUT I HATE FUCKING PEDESTRAINS WHEN i’M BEHIND THE WHEEL! where the hell do you get off just assuming that I will always be able to stop if you just leap out at the last second? dashing across the road at the last second in bad weather is just dumb dumb dumb but if I hit you because you didn’t give me neough time to stop safely, it’d be MY fault! Or when I’m waiting to make turns on busy streets, and I finally get an opening, and then, oh low and behold, here comes a dumbass to sauter across and make me miss my stop! You’re vehciles too- learn the rules of the road, and have some curtesy as well! if you want it you have to give it- all drivers are not assholes, but apparently a good number of the walkers in this city are.
This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2008.
agreed.. pedestrians shouldn’t just assume we can stop on a dime.. I pay attention, I am continuously scanning the road, side walk, even parked cars when I’m driving, (thanks Young Drivers, LOL) But when you dart out into traffic, without even looking… Its not safe… Keep your eyes OPEN! make EYE contact with drivers… Eye contact could save your life…Preacher CatLaDy, Signing off… 😉
My favourite is when you said people were vehicles. Really, it was golden. You have a point though, pedestrians need to take caution, especially in bad weather.
I like it especially when you’re standing at a crosswalk, waiting patiently for an opportunity to go over, and folks just keep on driving by. Even at crosswalks that are fitted with caution lights, people won’t stop, unless they see a cop in their vicinity. I’m very careful on the streets,(that’s the young crossing guard in me from days gone by) but between cyclists on the sidewalks, and drivers who REFUSE to stop at crosswalks, unless it’s at a set of lights, (and a red light is no guarantee) what’s a gal to do? What do you suggest, itchy foot?
ok, well I wrote this post before I stopped lurking and actually set up a profile so vicky: you sort of just underlined my point! When you’re driving, particularly in rush hour in this city, there’s only a very limited amount of time whne you can safely get through intersections or make turns. I don’t think it should be one or the other- I shouldn’t have to double my commute so I can be a nice maritime driver and stop for every person who wants to wander across the road, BUT nor do I think it should be impossible to walk without getting rundown. the point of my bitch is just god I want walkers to meet me in the middle! if it’s busy, for the love of god, hurry your ass up! if I pause for a pedestrian, the least you can do is run across teh fucking street or at least walk at a brisk pace so that I get to make my turn as well…then both of us are happy, and no one ends up as roadkill.
Yes, I say all the time, people need to walk with intent, not just a casual saunter without a care in the world. Those people piss me off.