Pedestrians

[MardyBra]

Please do not "nip in front" of my car as I am pulling out of a junction.

Oh, and a quick cheeky cross of the road just as the lights are changing and I've been waiting for ages isn't great either.

I don't want to kill you.

I know I'll be flamed as an imperialist gas-guzzling car driver even though my business couldn't function with a car but some of you have been getting on my tits this week.

Well that's learned me! I'm glad I had that little whinge now. I tend to assume other drivers are more experienced and know better. Seriously though EVERYONE I've asked about the two abreast cyclist thing has said they're in the wrong, bip at them to get past etc. Hmm.

There's nothing wrong with it. Just as there is nothing wrong with thanking people waiting behind me in a queue for being prepared to stand in the queue and not push in, or for me thanking customers in a cafe for not running over and grabbing a chair that I already have hold of and am about to sit down on, or me leaning out of the house window and thanking people walking down the street for not randomly moving into a house I already live in.

But some car drivers do not see these situations as equivalent because they don't really think pedestrians should have the right to step on to the crossing at any moment they choose to and have right of way. They really think that the road is theirs. I actually prefer that my town centre had removed crossings and put paved areas at crossing points across roads instead, because even though it is still part of the road, drivers perceive it as pavement so not theirs to 'graciously' allow pedestrians on to, as they do with crossings.

And I'm not interacting with people in cars anymore than I am with the other pedestrians on the crossing. I don't wave at every other fellow pedestrian just because we are in a road crossing interaction. Do you wave at all the other car drivers if you are all waiting at lights?

Bad - don't worry - drivers always know more than the other driver they are talking at. Even when they don't.

You shouldn't ever beep at cyclists.

They have as much right as a car to be there and they do have a right to be 2 abreast or to take the primary position (away from the kerb) if they feel safer. You just have to think of them as a tractor (ie; slow) and get round them when it's safe to do so.

at pedestrians purposefully being careless, not like they've got their life to loose or anything?! Why the fuck would they purposefully walk out in front of cars. I'm fed up of being beeped at for being to slow at a crossing, or for crossing over/ walking on the pavement minding my business when a car decides to encroach on the space I'm occupying- not for a minute anticipating the obvious- that there might be someone walking there, then Hooting and shouting like a total dick

If I thank a driver who has stopped at a pedestrian crossing, I think that is a pleasant interaction, and that it's better than ignoring them, even though I am not obligated to thank them. I honestly don't understand people trying to argue why it is wrong to do something nice.

Just because I don't wave at everyone on the road, doesn't mean I shouldn't wave at some people - just as the fact that I don't give to all charities doesn't mean I shouldn't donate to some.

As I said, a supermarket till operator is obligated to serve you - does that mean you don't thank them, Malaia?

We have a zebra crossing in a side street off the busy main road. The side street has only a few houses and then it is a country lane. When I have stopped there to cross the road and one car comes along, it always stops for me and I give a smile and a wave, although it was not necessary as no cars behind them. On the busy main road there are only pedestrian crossings.

There is a primary school at the end of my road, and some the children there do some kind of cycling proficiency. However, at the start of the session, they send all the children down to the end of the cul-de-sac, and they clump in the road on the junction. TBH, I think whoever is supervising the children has a duty of care to make sure they stop in a safer place, as some road users are impatient.

Adults pedestrians should take some responsibility for themselves though. I saw someone out for a jog on a busy (dual carraigeway) A-road the other day, which seemed a bit mental. It might be legal, but it definately isn't safe.

Equally, on the same road, I had to negotiate a hurse driving along at around 10mph. Most cars do 60-70mph on that section of road, so it was a real hazard.

Basically, I think drivers do have a duty to behave safely and expect the unexpected. However, as a pedestrian, you should look after your own safety and that of any children you are with. Sometimes drivers make mistakes, and ultimately you will come off worse.

I do think a lot of drivers don't actually know the highway code well enough, though.

The thing 20 yards to the right of you is a zebra crossing. It's actually for your benefit so fucking use it. Do not cross the road and when I have to do an emergency stop bang your hands on my bonnet. I am 34 weeks pregnant and angry and have a very itchy foot!

I always acknowledge someone who has stopped for me be it on a crossing or not. I thought it was just politeness. DS does it automatically. He is 8.

I don't drive yet learning very lazily but I've always thought why is it legal in this country to walk in the middle of the road unaided with pedestrian crossings? A car could be speeding up and people run out.

Forget running out I've noticed in brum Asian areas they are the worst offenders. They will walk like a layed back walk like they are strolling down the beach in barbados, some swagger too. They have this I don't give a toss attitude you must slow down for me. Old and young do this. It should be illegal!

I can't believe the number of pedestrians who think that not acknowledging a driver for stopping is required.

It's called common courtesy and is no different to holding a door open for someone or saying thank you to someone for holding the door open for you.

Pedestrians can be so self bloody righteous at times - when they walk into your path in a car park or when the cross the road without looking whilst eating a burger, listening to their iPod and reading at the same time. It's always your fault.

"I don't understand how anyone who is a pedestrian would have this shitty attitude of ' it's my right '

I certainly wouldn't risk arguing my right with a moving car."

Think about how common it is that you approach a roundabout and the HGV pulls out in front of you because it's bigger. That's quite frustrating, but not really dangerous. Then imagine how it'd be if the same HGVs just pulled out of blind junctions in front of you. Because they're bigger.

I don't like risking my life either as a pedestrian, but it is FUCKING irritating when trying to cross a road 5m from a blind junction and cuntyface decides that it's fine to negotiate the bend at 30mph and fuck the consequences (because there aren't any for them).

Does that clarify anything for you?

Freight rider, firstly there's a big difference between should and must.

The main thing is the individual road. I wouldn't ride two abreast round a bend on a narrow road. That would be dangerous as a car could come head on into me.

But if its a wide road, wide enough for two cars then yes I'd happily ride two abreast.

It's safer as it puts off a car coming up behind me from overtaking immediately before the bend/on the bend. Some drivers will do this as they're so impatient. If then they meet a car coming the other way they're going to swerve left into the cyclist rather than have a head on with another car. Sorry, but I wouldn't put myself in a dangerous position like that.

Why would you try to cross 5m from a blind junction! I was taught not to cross the road unless I could see both ways that there was nothing coming- even if that meant walking further away from your destination and doubling back after crossing.

Inabeautifulplace. HGV's don't pull out because they are bigger. They pull out because they have to find a suitable gap and if there is constant traffic the only way is to pull out causing the least problems possible.

This just goes to show unless you drive or have experience of all forms of transport your judgement of their driving can be flawed by you own lack of experience

Oh goody I have the attention of lots of drivers here! So:

Dear drivers, indicators are a real thing, try them some time.

Dear drivers, if there is a queue of traffic, don't wait over a zebra crossing or any other type of pedestrian crossing thus blocking it off.

Dear drivers, if a cyclist needs to take the centre of the lane, it as much for your safety as their own. Be patient, they'll move aside when they've cleared the junction or whatever.

Dear drivers, when it is cold and wet outside, remember you are in a warm dry vehicle and however miserable you're feeling, it's much worse for those of us walking or cycling.

Dear drivers, it is illegal to park on cycle paths, stop doing it.