[sdiy] OT: Was-> Tip of the Day: Resource Development -> pedestrians

[Jim Patchell]

	It is not much better here in Santa Barbara, CA...

	A couple of months ago I needed to cross a rather dangerous 
intersection.  I actually got off my bike, pressed the little button to 
give me the "walk" signal.  When it said walk, I proceeded.  A school 
bus going the opposite direction and wanting to make a left hand turn 
across my path accelerated real hard trying to beat me through the 
interesection.  When she failed, she stuck her head out the window and 
told me (in much rougher language), whould would run me over the next 
time I got in her way....such is life even in laid back California.

Ryan Guilfoyle wrote:
>   As a Cyclist on Long Island (Read Rich people live
> here and it's all suburbs) I get to see many abuses of
> pedestrian/auto laws. Not less than 24 hours ago I was
> coming up to an intersection, with proper right of way
> (sign says walk, im on the crosswalk) taking proper
> precautions, i.e. LOOKING for an auto behind me
> turning into the intersection I'm about to cross
> without signaling. I see an auto on its merry way down
> the road, without it's signal on. Make eye contact
> with driver... he then gives me the finger while
> making his turn directly in fron of my path and
> procedes to (since he's more worried about me slowing
> up his BMW than my actual rights as a pedestrian, or
> my safety) crashes into the car at the crosswalk
> waiting for it's green...
> All things said, the driver of the 745 gets out of his
> auto after crashing into another vehicle and WALKS
> across oncoming traffic to try and assualt me
> physically... 
> Luckily for me I was not hit by the auto, or the
> driver (with a fist) but the driver of the BMW now
> faces a prety serious bill for the auto damages he
> incurred, and also luckilly for me the third car in
> the traffic cue (s.p. ?) happend to be one of New
> Yorks finest, who aressted him promptly for his
> reckless driving, abuse of right of way laws, and
> nearly assaulting a pedestrian... Turns out the driver
> of the 745 was late to pick up his children, when
> asked (by the arresting officer) what his rush was it
> turns out he was going to a local spot where kids ride
> there BMX bikes to pick up his child...
> The arresting officer thought this was hilarious as I
> also ride a BMX bike, and drove me sirens on to my
> destination after filing the accident paperwork...
> 
> I digress... in NY the law states if a ped is not
> jaywalking HE/SHE ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY! and if
> there is no crosswalk signal you have to wait for all
> peds to cross PERIOD wether the light is RED, GREEN,
> YELLOW OR POLKA DOT! 
> 
> P.S. I use hand signals (remember those?) and ride off
> the sidewalk where there is heavy foot traffic, just
> to make sure I'm not taking any risks with ANYONE'S
> saftey or property, and I always obey the rest of the
> rules of the road that drvers seem to forget...
> 
> Ryan (from the home of crazy drivers, HEAVY TRAFFIC,
> bicycle messengers, people in wheelchairs, old folks
> who cant walk very rapidly, blind people with guide
> dogs and all the other types of pedestrians  e.t.c.)
> 
> 
> 
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