Today I stepped outside for a brief stroll at about 11 am.
I have this pet peeve, see, it's when cars making a turn don't yield to passengers crossing the street on a green light. It happens every once in a while in the downtown area. Usually it's because they're trying to squeeze a left turn in. As long as I can walk at a normal speed and make it across the street, I don't mind if they turn in front of me, I'll do the same as long as there's space. But if they muscle their way in and actually cause me to stop walking, in order to not get hit, that really ticks me off. So I always give a slap to the car as it goes by when this happens.
Today, a big white van really cut into my path and I had to come to a dead stop to avoid getting hit. I found myself inches from the car as it went by. So I slapped the side and windows about 5 times. The driver stops his van in the middle of the street (in downtown Chicago), gets out, and gets ALL up in my face, stands right in front of me. He's older, shorter, fat and out of shape. I don't remember what he said exactly, something like why you touch my car, fu(k you, you were in the way or something. I say that I had the right of way, he just can't turn into me like that. He points to the light, which is now red, and says "see, the light is red." I tell him that the hand ( the don't walk signal) was blinking, not solid, and the light was green, and that means that I have the right of way. He's cursing and stuff, and telling me that he'll kill me or something if I touch his car again. I really wanted to sock him in his fat gut and/or face, but there were plenty of witnessess around and I have a family to think of. I just kept telling him to learn to drive and that I had the right of way. Then he goes, get the fu(k out of my face, I said, you're the one that stopped and got in my face. After a minute or so of this, he realized that he had nothing to say and walked back to his car. I'm shouting at him again to learn to drive and that I had the right of way. As I crossed the street, finally, an onlooker says "what a jerk!" That made me feel better. Man, if I ever get into a fight nowadays it might be over something like this. I get really p!ssed off at unsafe drivers.
I drove a white Ford Astrovan van for a little and just missed a pedestrian walking. I was in an unfamiliar part of DC (actually before I moved to the area so 99% of DC was unfamiliar) and coming to a stoplight with a seperate right turn with yeild sign. I started to go through the right turn and was looking to make sure no cars were coming at the same time. A guy apparently started across the right turn area at the same time and I ended up stopping in his walking path just missing him. He slapped my van with his hand or briefcase and walked behind and started up the street I was turning on to, and he looked mad. I waited for cars to pass and turned.
I saw him walking up the street and wanted to stop to say sorry but didn’t. I still feel bad about that…
People suck at driving here.
If someone almost hits me with their car, Ill f*ckin kick it. If Im real pizzed, Ill mule kick it. If the driver then gets toothy about it, Ill knock him out and run him over with his own car. end of story.
:eek:
In Nevada pedestrians always have the right of way, even if your breaking the law. Its funny. Your always at fault in a auto-wreck if your car hit his car, regardless of why.
Good stuff.
You should have thrown at least one knife at him while he was approaching you. I would have had one into him as he opened his door. Think ahead man.
Texans. Snow.
'Nuff said.
<- will be a crazy texas driver in colorado snow this winter. Am kinda scurd to drive in the snow however… Ive only seen it once. :eek: seriously. :eek:
i think it’s basically a national standard that the pedestrian has the right of way. it’s a simple thing, because even if the pedestrian is wrong, the pedestrian is gonna be injured.
so basically, if it was flashing red, you were wrong, but the van driver, as the person in the several-thousand-pound vehicle, has great responsibility to control his vehicle in the safest possible manner. he should be looking at where you were at for potential danger, not the sign that said don’t walk.
regardless, you were both wrong, but in court, he’ll be more wrong because he’d be the one that hit you.
Flashing red means don’t start across the street, if he already was going across, that is in the right… If you enter the street, you still technic. have the right of way, but it isn’t advised.
Seeing that I learned to drive in the parking lot of a ski area at 13 with dads pickup (read rear wheel drive and lots a torque) in a blizard I have a small advantage over most of these bumbling drivers here in the snow..
I got lost driving around in this snowstorm in colorado a while back..i must say, the roadsigns over there make life easier I was able to find my way back just due to well placed signs. I must give colorado props for that
If you look left when you are turning right - ball peen hammer! (I’ve been nearly squished several times in this scenario, when I had a green pedestrian light.)
Also, fu(k you and your gas-guzzling SUV that rides so high you think you are above the world of cyclists, pedestrians and small cars. A sedan is all the car anybody needs except for people who tote large heavy loads for a living, who are to be allowed pickup trucks. The rest of us can rent a pickup or van when needed, and preferably take a bike, bus or train for normal travel (yes, this will mean spending more money on public transit - so what?) I want a world made for people, not drivers (no, the two are not the same.)
boston’s just a free-for-all whether you’re a pedestrian or a driver. The trick is to walk (or drive)right out in front of oncoming traffic and turn your head away like you can’t see them bearing down on you. Then trade colorful language and gestures with each other in an escalating yet mesmerizingly beautiful dance of profanity until you’re both crushed by a cement mixer.
cambridge takes its pedestrian laws veeerrrryyy seriously, even jaywalkers have the right of way. certain streets (like around Harvard square or the galleria) I don’t even drive down if I want to get somewhere in a hurry.
the only drivers I really have a problem with are the asshats at the intersection near my house (next to a school) who will drive right up to a line of kids crossing the street, honk like crazy and swear at the crossing guard. A ball peen hammer isn’t good enough for 'em. :mad:
Originally posted by yenhoi In Nevada pedestrians always have the right of way, even if your breaking the law. Its funny. Your always at fault in a auto-wreck if your car hit his car, regardless of why.
Why are Nevada residents running into the cars of pedestrians? And how do they find their parking spots?
No wonder Nevada has such strict laws against those who hit pedestrian vehicles. That’s one tough place.
first of all, i havent read the content of any post here, not even the starting one, just the topic “Pedestrian Rage” is all i read
My brother defines one thing as “suicidal instinct” - That is when one pedestrian is getting across the street then some others who are like 2 or 3 steps distance decide to get across too “I think theres enough time” they think. Eventually one of this gets hit for his collective orientation in thinking that if that guy could get a across in time “Sure i could too, im close”
Keep your eyes on the road
And hands uppon the wheel
Originally posted by Water Dragon
[B]Uh, if the light was flashing, he had the right of way, not you.
-Fellow Chicago Loop Pedestrian- [/B]
I’m not sure. It was Michigan Ave. which is divided. I was at least to the divide and possibly f.arther when the light changed from walk to flashing. Furthermore I was about a third of the way across the second part when he cut into my path. He forced his way past me, so I’m gonna get p!ssed. Plus I see pedestrians crossing like this all of the time. Seriously I have never been cut off like this before.
Maybe I’m just conditioned to Pennsylvania. My understanding is that pedestrians have the right of way in all circumstances.
Many years ago this almost happened to me. I was standing at a light, and I hit the button to get the signal. The signal comes on, and I hop off my bike and start walking. Some idiot decides he wants to turn right (I am more then 3/4 of the way across by now) and starts going. He then stops when he sees me, then gives me a nasty look and continues, nearly hitting me. I saluted him and kept going.
