Hey, I don't mind getting a ticket, as long as I still get points for running down pedestrians it's a fair trade...

Drivers who do not yield to pedestrians in a cross walk should be tased, fined and lose half of the points on their driver's license. On the second offense the driver should lose their license for six months.

a plainclothes officer will cross the street as a vehicle approaches from 140 feet away, officials said. That provides adequate stopping distance based on the 30 m.p.h. speed limit on most streets, officials said.

Officials are wrong. The minimum stopping sight distance for a 30 mile per hour design speed is 200 feet. For a crosswalk where you have to notice a pedestrian starting to cross at a time designed to illegally interfere with traffic add another second or 50 feet. And then of course the operating speed is probably higher than 30. So double that 140 feet and the police maybe don't deserve to be run over.

The city, county, state and federal police in this country are civilians, submitter. Giving them camo and automatic weapons and battering rams and flash bangs to break and enter and kill people whenever they feel like it does not make them military. They are civilians.

Pedestrians getting squished is silly?

Because of taxis, no doubt.

torch: The city, county, state and federal police in this country are civilians, submitter. Giving them camo and automatic weapons and battering rams and flash bangs to break and enter and kill people whenever they feel like it does not make them military. They are civilians.

Maybe not strictly military, but quasi-military.

On average, almost one pedestrian is killed in a traffic collision each week in Chicago, police records show.

Which is why this "sting" isn't "silly".

dletter: On average, almost one pedestrian is killed in a traffic collision each week in Chicago, police records show.

Which is why this "sting" isn't "silly".

My uncle was hit a few weeks ago while jogging downtown on his lunch break. He got hit by a doctor near Northwestern Medical Center. He suffered "just" a concussion and some scrapes and spent a couple of nights in the hospital for observation, but god-damn, that had to hurt.

Brodan: Because of taxis, no doubt.

No, it is on the northwest side. They are no doubt illegal Poles. Or illegal Poles driving taxis.

I was pulling into a mall parking lot the other day and some dude on a bike came zipping down the sidewalk, narrowly missing the front end of my car. He slowed to yell at me, "Pedestrians first buddy!", then continued on his way down the sidewalk.

I took this as challenge, and rapidly drove around the parking lot to meet him at the other end of the lot where the other exit was. As he approached the crossover of the car exit, I accelerated so that he hit the front bumper of my car and flew over the hood on to his ass. Rolling down my window, I loudly exclaimed, "There! Now you are a pedestrian biatch!".

// Almost true story. I missed him with my car and he hauled ass away

I was taught when I was little that if you got hit by a car that you were being stupid and not paying attention. It didn't matter if you were right and the driver of the car was wrong, you were still going to be hurt badly or worse.

Of course my friend made a demotivator on this subject.



I also helped him write this little helpful article for the local student paper. (new window)

.....While looking both ways is a mantra dating back to the pre-preschool era of our youth and the Disney Afternoon was the frashizzle, most of the time students just don't look or think about a 1-ton object coming their way. This is a major problem. Pedestrians on campus have this presumed notion that they have the right of way on all roads and this supposed legal right will magically form a protective barrier that will shield them from oncoming vehicles and photon torpedoes. In reality, pedestrians only get right of way on Centennial Drive; everywhere else pedestrians are fair game. Master Shake said it perfectly, "you have the right of way until you're in the way." Right of way on campus, which doesn't really exist anyway, will not stop the laws of physics; the laws of physics will stop YOU......

Chicago P.D. - be sure not to miss where I got hit a year ago - the Kennedy entrance ramp on Ogden Avenue. Fortunately for me Mr. Dumbass managed to find his break, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this. Still threw me about ten feet though.

See, if I'm waiting at a crosswalk, I'm giving drivers the right-of-way. I figure it's easier for me to pause two seconds then for them to stop for me. I actually get annoyed when they brake anyway. If I wanted them to brake I would've stepped out into the street.

"Pedestrians have the right of way" is a true statement, and is the law of the land

A one-ton pickup hitting a pedestrian at 10 mph will knock the average 125 lb pedestrian about 30 feet is also a true statement, and is the law of inertia.

Never assume the asshole driving the truck is going to stop just because the civil law says he has to. It hurts a lot if he doesn't.

Good.

Way too many asshole drivers out there who don't have a clue that pedestrians have the right of way. Only thing better would be letting pedestrians open fire on them in self-defense.

i'd rather them do this than pose as hookers...people drive like assholes in chicago.


/not that i approach hookers
//craigslist ftw
///suckitebay

Black people don't understand how to use crosswalks.

They can't read my license plate from all the blood and caked on hair anyway.

They're doing this in Austin right now too.

swahnhennessy: See, if I'm waiting at a crosswalk, I'm giving drivers the right-of-way. I figure it's easier for me to pause two seconds then for them to stop for me. I actually get annoyed when they brake anyway. If I wanted them to brake I would've stepped out into the street.

Per my above post - I used to think a little careful planning and common sense would keep me safe. Here's how it really works: cars move really, really fast. In comparison, you move really, really slow. You don't even have time to say "Oh shiat" when you are unlucky enough to be in the wrong place in at the wrong time.

after nearly being mowed down in Manhattan by SUV driving pricks the past times i have visited, GOOD!

swahnhennessy:
" See, if I'm waiting at a crosswalk, I'm giving drivers the right-of-way. I figure it's easier for me to pause two seconds then for them to stop for me. I actually get annoyed when they brake anyway. If I wanted them to brake I would've stepped out into the street."

I do that as well, and some drivers get upset with me when I don't cross when they want me to. But then, I live in Malden Ma, near Route 60. Because that route runs right through Malden, drivers think it gives them the right to drive like its the Grand Prix.

Personaly I would love to see them come down hard on people who don't use turn signals, and yes my wife included. Signal your intent to change lanes comes in a distant second to talking on cell phones. If I had the right to taze anyone it would be them. Well maybe not my wife cause then I'd have to hear about it.

Anybody going to punish the pedestrians who continue to walk when the sign says "DON'T WALK"?

I'm a pedestrian in Chicago so...

Seriously, every time a driver decides to turn right on red without looking for pedestrians that pedestrian should be allowed to take a 9 iron to the drivers crotch. Same goes for bikes on the sidewalk. Bikes on the sidewalk where there is a bike lane could run their nuts through the bike gears.

PA lawmakers-- take notes. Also, ticket drivers who fail to yield to peds on the sidewalk.

Q314: Anybody going to punish the pedestrians who continue to walk when the sign says "DON'T WALK"?

As a driver in Chicago...

Yes. Yes. Yes. Trust me, I'm looking for you, but when you walk where you shouldn't or at times you shouldn't (i.e. follow the law dumb farks) it is hard to not hit you. Don't give me an evil look.


Yes. I have a car, but usually walk and take transit in Chicago. I'm super paranoid since I see the shiat from all angles.

I wish there were cops doing this at my local grocery store. At the entrance there is about a 40 foot wide marked crosswalk with two big stop signs at each end. Nevertheless, about once a month I'm just walking in and some asshat not only ignores the stop sign, but proceeds to either look pissed off, give me the finger, or honk their horn because they have to stop and let myself, and usually others cross.

It is a parking lot for christ sake! How hard is it to obey a stop sign and let a pedestrian cross? These idiots should die in a fire.

Gyrfalcon: "Pedestrians have the right of way" is a true statement, and is the law of the land

And it's also stupid. There's a reason that a large ship has the right of way over a small boat. Pedestrians who get hit (assuming the car isn't driving down the sidewalk) deserve what they get.

Q314: Anybody going to punish the pedestrians who continue to walk when the sign says "DON'T WALK"?

Ahmen!

Marubozo: I wish there were cops doing this at my local grocery store. At the entrance there is about a 40 foot wide marked crosswalk with two big stop signs at each end. Nevertheless, about once a month I'm just walking in and some asshat not only ignores the stop sign, but proceeds to either look pissed off, give me the finger, or honk their horn because they have to stop and let myself, and usually others cross.

It is a parking lot for christ sake! How hard is it to obey a stop sign and let a pedestrian cross? These idiots should die in a fire.

Whole Foods on Canal?

Here in DC the driver is god and pedestrians are respected about as much as ants on the sidewalk. The best part is you never really know who's going where because NOBODY uses their turn signals, how can they when one hand's on the wheel and the other's on the phone? Bus drivers are the worst offenders.

Do you get bonus points for hitting cops dressed as civilians?

/drivin to chicago RIGHT NOW!
//when you hear the thump switch into reverse

I don't care what the law says if it outweighs me by more than a ton it has the right of way!!! Always!!!

Getting hit down under _{(new window video)}

These dipshiat cops just step into the middle of the street when a car is careening past and then radio ahead to get the guy ticketed for swerving to save the life of the poor cocksucking pig that risked his life to bring another penny into the pigpen's coffers. Sad day for humanity.

Pedestrians who get hit by cars deserve to get hit by a lead pipe in the head if they survive the car. It's called "open your farking eyes and look before running in the middle of the road where 2500 pound hunks of metal are flying by at 100 miles an hour."

Are we talking about people IN the crosswalk, or people NEAR the crosswalk?

Who wouldn't stop for somebody in the middle of the road?

On the other hand, who the hell cares if you're close to the edge of the sidewalk? Stand there and try to make eye contact with the passing cars...somebody will let you cross.

Once one car stops, they'll all stop.

Helios1182: Whole Foods on Canal?

Nope, a Martin's near South Bend. But I'm sure this behavior applies everywhere.

Maybe Hartford, CT should take note?

swahnhennessy - See, if I'm waiting at a crosswalk, I'm giving drivers the right-of-way. I figure it's easier for me to pause two seconds then for them to stop for me.


Thank you for being sensible and reasonable. This idea that "pedestrians have the right of way!!!" is clearly carried too far.

Certainly there are times when pedestrians have the right of way, but certainly there are also times when they don't.

I don't know the specifics in every situation, but in my opinion. (when I'm a motorist AND when I'm a pedestrian) is that the same sort of common sense logic that gives sailboats the right of way over powerboats, should generally give cars the right of way over pedestrians.

Powerboats are more agile and can stop and start and change course more easily and quickly than a sailboat... thus, they're generally expected to yield to sailboats and avoid getting in their way.

As a pedestrian, it's easier to stop and start and stay out of the way than it is for cars. Pedestrians should be mindful of this and avoid stepping into the path of moving cars.

For every asshole in a car that I ever see blowing through a crosswalk when he shouldn't, I see 5 pedestrians spitefully step in the way of a moving car with that "He'll stop!!!" fueled disregard of slowing the momentum of a car and then building it up again.

Just because you CAN do something, even when the law says you can, it doesn't mean you're not a complete dick for doing it.

Coolboy55: These dipshiat cops just step into the middle of the street when a car is careening past and then radio ahead to get the guy ticketed for swerving to save the life of the poor cocksucking pig that risked his life to bring another penny into the pigpen's coffers. Sad day for humanity.

Pedestrians who get hit by cars deserve to get hit by a lead pipe in the head if they survive the car. It's called "open your farking eyes and look before running in the middle of the road where 2500 pound hunks of metal are flying by at 100 miles an hour."

Yeah, this is dumb as shiat.

Ticketing these people is half the problem of when pedestrians near-unconsciously and in an oblivious fashion just walk across a busy street.

If a pedestrian makes eye contact (aka - I see cars are there) I'll let em pass. Of course this happens a lot more at non-crosswalk locations.

If yer in da crosswalk or bike lane, I'll try NOT to hit yas.
But fer fark's sake, get outta the goddamn road!

The two test intersections aren't controlled by traffic signals or stop signs, but state and city ordinances require drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Well, the rule is that pedestrians have the right of way in marked crosswalks where there are no other traffic controls -- e.g. at the half-block crosswalks around the city-county building downtown. Having used those crosswalks on dozens of occasions, however, I can say without hesitation that pedestrians are well-advised to yield to the cars driven by people who are largely indifferent to such legal niceties -- including those many Cook County Sheriff's deputies driving down Clark St. Sure, they're breaking the law, but the way I figure it, I'd rather not have engraved on my tombstone: "Hey, I had the right of way!"

technicolor-misfit: For every asshole in a car that I ever see blowing through a crosswalk when he shouldn't, I see 5 pedestrians spitefully step in the way of a moving car with that "He'll stop!!!" fueled disregard of slowing the momentum of a car and then building it up again.

Go to Brockton, Massachusetts and you can up that number. They don't care about crosswalks or anything. Basically their lives suck so much that they would either want to get run over, or collect free money from your insurance company for their 'injuries'.

This thread reminds me of a conversation I had here a few years back in a cycling-related thread, with some guy who was talking about all the times he's been hit by cars...

Why? Because he was a bitter militant cocksucker for whom it was a point of pride to step or ride out in front of moving cars in order to "force them" to recognize his right of way. Obvioucly, it didn't always work out that way.

All I could think was it'll be nice when somebody finally finishes the job.

Sumdumfarkr: If yer in da crosswalk or bike lane, I'll try NOT to hit yas.

Thank you for using the correct Chicago plural form of "you."

Just make sure the pedestrian you're running over isn't actually a cop. To find out for sure, look at the upper right hand side of your windshield. If one star appears, it's a pedestrian...if 3 stars appear, you just hit a cop.

/not obscure
//don't care
///avoiding the helicopter as we speak

And for the people complaining about pedestrians crossing against traffic, you should come and see the Intersection of Commercial and Centre Street where I am. Even when the pedestrian has the walk signal, cars turning on the red never give you a chance to cross. And cars turning on the green are so numerous, that by the time the last car turns, the light is green for the cross traffic.