And todays morons are
- Thread starter CanNik
- Start date
Nvreloader
Western Nevada
- Region
- USA
Too bad you didn't have a train air horn, maybe that would cause them to think.. you were always taught to look both ways before stepping out into a traffic area.
Even seeing eye dogs know better.
It just shows there are too many lifeguards on duty at the gene pool, these days. ymmv
Even seeing eye dogs know better.
It just shows there are too many lifeguards on duty at the gene pool, these days. ymmv
CanNik
Active Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
Slaphappygamer
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Aptos
Same thing happened to me the other day. Lady just waltzed into the street. Your horn is way louder than my bell. I rang my bell before she did. She didn’t even look my way. She had no headphones. Her being an older lady, I don’t think she ever heard of looking both ways before crossing the street. She was looking right at her car across the street. Good thing I wasn’t a car.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
If the pedestrian would have been crossing at the crosswalk this rider would have been 100 percent in the wrong.
www.gov.uk
The Highway Code - Rules for pedestrians (1 to 35) - Guidance - GOV.UK
Rules for pedestrians, including general guidance, crossing the road, crossings, and situations needing extra care.
CanNik
Active Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
If the pedestrian would have been crossing at the crosswalk this rider would have been 100 percent in the wrong.
The Highway Code - Rules for pedestrians (1 to 35) - Guidance - GOV.UK
Rules for pedestrians, including general guidance, crossing the road, crossings, and situations needing extra care.
100% not like this just step out and NOT LOOK and NOT on the crossing
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Mixed feelings on this. Looking carefully between 1 and 2 seconds, you can see the guy is starting to turn his head just as he steps off the curb. Also, they are close to the crosswalk even if they are not in it. Finally, if the rider had eased up on the throttle just slightly, or even tapped the brakes, and done nothing, the pedestrians would probably have passed in front of him harmlessly.
In the '70s, the era of the first bike messengers in NYC, the goal was to glide through heavy pedestrian traffic at high speed, not touching anyone even if you scared the living hell out of them, reserving the whistle for only much closer calls than this one.
So, my instinct in this situation would be not to go for the horn yet. I'd be thinking, "How do I dodge them?" There's a danger in tapping the horn, too-- that they freeze, or move in some unpredictable way.
I don't have a clear instinct on the right play in this situation. But is irritating that the guy turns to look AFTER they have stepped off the curb, when they are both already firmly committed to crossing. If a pedestrian makes eye contact with me, we just have far more options.
In the '70s, the era of the first bike messengers in NYC, the goal was to glide through heavy pedestrian traffic at high speed, not touching anyone even if you scared the living hell out of them, reserving the whistle for only much closer calls than this one.
So, my instinct in this situation would be not to go for the horn yet. I'd be thinking, "How do I dodge them?" There's a danger in tapping the horn, too-- that they freeze, or move in some unpredictable way.
I don't have a clear instinct on the right play in this situation. But is irritating that the guy turns to look AFTER they have stepped off the curb, when they are both already firmly committed to crossing. If a pedestrian makes eye contact with me, we just have far more options.
CanNik
Active Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
Pedestrians are indeed the bane of any cyclists existence. My approach is to assume they are going to do everything they can to block my path and slow down accordingly.
It's important to keep in mind that pedestrians, who greatly outnumber cyclists, generate complaints which are the main reason for anti e-bike regulations.
It's important to keep in mind that pedestrians, who greatly outnumber cyclists, generate complaints which are the main reason for anti e-bike regulations.
Catalyzt
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Fair enough-- I don't have a throttle, either, on either of my bikes, I was speaking figuratively!
And I don't want to undermine the larger point that stepping into the street before looking both ways is, indeed, stupid. And yeah, I don't know how that got to be a thing, either, though I've probably done it myself on a few rare occasions.
I'm just saying for me, I would have eased up on my 'throttle' (e.g., pedaled slower) or tapped the brakes just because it's the easier thing to do to avoid any kind of confrontation. Part of this is due to where I live-- if I hit the horn like that, there's a non-trivial chance the pedestrian might try to jump me, pull a gun, etc.
My friend in the UK has complained for decades about how dangerous it is to ride there, particularly London, though that's mostly due to cars. Generally he gave me the feeling that anything on two wheels with a small motor is invisible or gets little respect.
PCeBiker
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
What if it was a child or dog that stepped out in front of you, or any other hazard.
Just ride defensively.
Would you have reacted the same if you rode up on this,.??
BTW, I can stop my e-bike in about 10 feet going 10 mph.
It's good practice for an emergency, and it's kinda fun.
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Imagine replaying the original footage in a courtroom, but with the woman is a child that gets hit by the rider.
There was enough time to hit the horn and swerve, she was able to react and get out of the way, but not enough time for the rider to stop?
30 years ago I had a distracted driver pull out in front of me. Instead of stopping I swerved and went to pass- I was on an over powered two wheel device and stupid. She kept turning, was " at fault" , but I was the moron and am still paying the price - my neck has never been the same .
The moment you get angry on two wheels is the moment you become the moron.
PCeBiker
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
I know two people that did the exact same thing on their motorcycles. Both of them passengers on the back.
Of course the riders were fine, but the one passenger broke his ankle and the other passenger broke her leg as a compound fracture.
I remember skidding my front tire to a stop in an emergency on my motorcycle. I could have swerved and hit the gas, but I always drive defensively, even when I'm driving/riding like an ass.
(I'm too old to drive like an ass now, except for me riding no-hands, but that's not illegal on a "bicycle".)
I used to deliver
and drove the living snot out of my car, but I never broke the law.I used to get 40,000 km on a clutch. I replaced it 3-4 times.
I worked up to 60 a week for 8 years and Never got a ticket or had an accident.
I NEVER used my horn.
I remember hitting the horn one time and it didn't work. I didn't bother fixing it. It didn't work for years.
I use my bike bell as an Ashtray,..
I'm going to reach for my brakes in an emergency, not the bell.
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