Why don't pedestrians ever run?

[lyssword]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Originally posted by: tweakmm
If someone is waiting to cross I pick up to a quick pass. I hardly run, but I have a long gait and can cover a good distance quickly. I always make a nod or wave to the person who I'm hold up to.

Exactly what I do.

I usually pick up the speed when crossing if I'm holding the "almighty" cars in line

 

[Toastedlightly]

I was told never to run across the street. More unpredictable that way. Predictable is safe.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Originally posted by: jtvang125
In the very rare times that I do have to walk I will hurry up a little if I'm holding a few cars back.

Good for you, man. Good to see you're not a self-centered lazy person!

That argument goes both ways. Some people still enjoy taking walks, I'll give up a minute in my car so they can relax. Imagine you're on a date with someone and walking across the street enjoying yourselves, do you want someone honking at you to hurry up?

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
Are we talking a protected intersection, or just some random place along the street? If it's a protected intersection with a crossing light, sure I might jog the remaining distance if the light's about to change. But otherwise, no. The extra 15 seconds sitting there in your car isn't going to kill you.

If you want to see polite, you should drive the road I take to work every day. It's not uncommon for traffic to stop (not at a light) to allow pedestrians waiting at a crosswalk to cross the street. That's polite.

Well if it's an intersection with a crosswalk and a crosswalk light saying you can go...and nobody is in line to make a turn that would cross over the crosswalk...I say take your time. But a lot of times lanes get held way back and gridlock occurs because somebody suddenly darted out across a crosswalk when a car was about to make a left turn..and by the time he's done crossing the light turns red and just holds more people back.

Yes, cars should ALWAYS stop at crosswalks (that don't have a cross-walk light) if somebody wants to cross and it's busy. If I'm the only car on a road late at night, I say let the pedestrian wait the extra 1.5 seconds for me to pass so it's completely clear behind me.

The extra 15 seconds sitting in a car though, is an extra 15 seconds to the other 20 cars too...and possibly causes a car to miss the next 3 lights which is an extra couple minutes, which could lead to even more, etc.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon
Are we talking a protected intersection, or just some random place along the street? If it's a protected intersection with a crossing light, sure I might jog the remaining distance if the light's about to change. But otherwise, no. The extra 15 seconds sitting there in your car isn't going to kill you.

If you want to see polite, you should drive the road I take to work every day. It's not uncommon for traffic to stop (not at a light) to allow pedestrians waiting at a crosswalk to cross the street. That's polite.

For a second there i thought you might have been in boston. The drivers here are crazy that way. I dont call it polite though. I think its pretty stupid actually. Im an aggressive ped and even i dont cross under that situation.

 

[shelaby]

i always thought pedestrians had the right of way

 

[mugs]

I more or less agree with you BlancoNino. I don't expect people to run or job, but a brisk walk would be nice. The worst is in a parking lot when people saunter across at a diagonal, thereby prolonging the amount of time they're blocking traffic!

It has taken me years to train my wife how to be courteous while walking in a parking lot.

 

[mobobuff]

They don't run because they think they'll look silly. They also assume that the driver is a jackass, and that it's not the end of the world if they're 3 more seconds late to their destination.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: shelaby
i always thought pedestrians had the right of way

legally they do at crosswalks that have no lights, and at crosswalks when the light is green for them to walk. If pedestrians aren't at a crosswalk/intersection and just dart into the road, no driver will be at fault if they hit them.

I'm not saying it should be unlawful for pedestrians to walk slowly, I'm just saying that it's more polite to pick up the pace a bit.

Also, pedestrians need to be more aware of cars. It seems like a lot of them just dart across parking lots/streets without even looking around them. Even at crosswalks with a green light they don't look and they should...even though they have the right of way. Why? Because drivers aren't always perfect. Even if it IS the drivers fault, it's not going to matter to you if you're dead.

 

[Toastedlightly]

ministry of silly walks would be disapointed

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: shelaby
i always thought pedestrians had the right of way

Right of way != right to be rude. What ever happened to being courteous?

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Originally posted by: shelaby
i always thought pedestrians had the right of way

legally they do at crosswalks that have no lights, and at crosswalks when the light is green for them to walk. If pedestrians aren't at a crosswalk/intersection and just dart into the road, no driver will be at fault if they hit them.

I'm not saying it should be unlawful for pedestrians to walk slowly, I'm just saying that it's more polite to pick up the pace a bit.

Also, pedestrians need to be more aware of cars. It seems like a lot of them just dart across parking lots/streets without even looking around them. Even at crosswalks with a green light they don't look and they should...even though they have the right of way. Why? Because drivers aren't always perfect. Even if it IS the drivers fault, it's not going to matter to you if you're dead.

Now you went from parking lots and crosswalks to pedestrians darting across the street in traffic? Care to start over with your rant?

 

[Cookie]

Originally posted by: ZetaEpyon

If you want to see polite, you should drive the road I take to work every day. It's not uncommon for traffic to stop (not at a light) to allow pedestrians waiting at a crosswalk to cross the street. That's polite.

Not only polite, but also required by law. ...at least it is where I live.

Also, running across the crosswalk is probably not a very safe idea, walking fast sure, but not running. I don't mind people walking at a moderate pace, but I start to get annoyed when they are walking painfully slow.... unless they are elderly of course. The other day I waited for what seemed like 2 minutes for a 20-something girl to walk across 4 lanes. But I think she was on crack.

 

[Rubycon]

Crosswalks should flash RUN instead of DON'T WALK.

:laugh:

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: mugs
I more or less agree with you BlancoNino. I don't expect people to run or job, but a brisk walk would be nice. The worst is in a parking lot when people saunter across at a diagonal, thereby prolonging the amount of time they're blocking traffic!

It has taken me years to train my wife how to be courteous while walking in a parking lot.

Yup. I agree with Blanco as well. What I really hate is when some a-hole is walking down the middle of a parking lot aisle. Then instead of simply moving straight to the side to get out of the way they continue walking in the same general direction while slowly drifting to the side.

 

[yowolabi]

Not everyone likes to or wants to run. People that are older or out of shape find it physically painful to speed up. I'm sure the pedestrian who's walking probably left themselves plenty of time to get to their destination, and sees no reason to hurry. If the driver had done the same, he wouldn't be complaining that he has to wait an extra 5-10 seconds for a pedestrian to cross.

So it comes down to who should be inconvenienced... the person walking who may have no desire and little ability to jog, or you who can't wait a few extra seconds while you're sitting comfortably in your climate controlled car. Easy answer for me.

And for the record I always hurry across, but that's because I like to run and also run down the sidewalk. I'm just not so egocentric that I think someone, like my elderly mother who walks everywhere, should have to risk hurting herself to save some young active male who chooses to drive a few seconds.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: jtusa

Originally posted by: BlancoNino

Originally posted by: shelaby
i always thought pedestrians had the right of way

legally they do at crosswalks that have no lights, and at crosswalks when the light is green for them to walk. If pedestrians aren't at a crosswalk/intersection and just dart into the road, no driver will be at fault if they hit them.

I'm not saying it should be unlawful for pedestrians to walk slowly, I'm just saying that it's more polite to pick up the pace a bit.

Also, pedestrians need to be more aware of cars. It seems like a lot of them just dart across parking lots/streets without even looking around them. Even at crosswalks with a green light they don't look and they should...even though they have the right of way. Why? Because drivers aren't always perfect. Even if it IS the drivers fault, it's not going to matter to you if you're dead.

Now you went from parking lots and crosswalks to pedestrians darting across the street in traffic? Care to start over with your rant?

Just elaborating on a related topic that came to mind. Is that wrong?

 

[AbAbber2k]

I walk briskly if there's a car waiting for me. But I'm not gonna fvcking jog or run across. I'm the pedestrian, I'm going to exercise my right-of-way...

...bitch.



Besides, it takes what... like 5 whole seconds to walk the breadth of a car? ZOMG U GONNA BE LATE!!!1eleven
When I'm driving I always stop for people waiting to cross, and I don't complain when they take their time. I'm in a fvcking car. If the extra 5 seconds is that big of a deal I'll just go FASTER when they're out of the crosswalk. :roll:

You get use to waiting for pedestrians when you live on a college campus and waiting to drive through a crosswalk can mean waiting for 50 students to cross.

 

[Baked]

Because I don't wanna get run over by a car 'cause your impatient ass can't wait 2 seconds.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: yowolabi
Not everyone likes to or wants to run. People that are older or out of shape find it physically painful to speed up. I'm sure the pedestrian who's walking probably left themselves plenty of time to get to their destination, and sees no reason to hurry. If the driver had done the same, he wouldn't be complaining that he has to wait an extra 5-10 seconds for a pedestrian to cross.

So it comes down to who should be inconvenienced... the person walking who may have no desire and little ability to jog, or you who can't wait a few extra seconds while you're sitting comfortably in your climate controlled car. Easy answer for me.

And for the record I always hurry across, but that's because I like to run and also run down the sidewalk. I'm just not so egocentric that I think someone, like my elderly mother who walks everywhere, should have to risk hurting herself to save some young active male who chooses to drive a few seconds.

Exactly, which is why I said people should hustle unless something is holding them back. Age, health problems, etc.

 

[jpeyton]

What's wrong with following the law? At designated cross-walks, pedestrians have the right of way. A car can turn when the cross-walk is clear. If traffic is too much to deal with, take public transportation.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Unless they're carrying/pushing something, I see no reason for pedestrians not to pick up the pace a little bit. When holding up a car or two (or even 20), I still see pedestrians walking slowly across the street...taking their sweet time. Same with parking lots, etc.

Is running that huge of a burden? Are people that lazy/out of shape?

I ALWAYS run/jog across crosswalks and parking lots. It's polite. I suggest everyone else do the same, unless something is holding them back.

I move quickly too and support your viewpoint.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: mugs
I more or less agree with you BlancoNino. I don't expect people to run or job, but a brisk walk would be nice. The worst is in a parking lot when people saunter across at a diagonal, thereby prolonging the amount of time they're blocking traffic!

It has taken me years to train my wife how to be courteous while walking in a parking lot.

Yup. I agree with Blanco as well. What I really hate is when some a-hole is walking down the middle of a parking lot aisle. Then instead of simply moving straight to the side to get out of the way they continue walking in the same general direction while slowly drifting to the side.

That's one of the habits I've tried so hard to break my wife of.

 

[BlancoNino]

Just to clarify, this thread was more or less to let other people know what I personally do to be more polite to drivers...and not me wanting pedestrians to hurry the fvck up because I'm impatient. I'm not impatient.

 

[pinion9]

Originally posted by: mugs
train my wife

Shens.

I too have one of these mystical creatures, and I can assure you, they cannot be trained. They are not unlike cats.