Watch where you’re walking
as an avid walker in this wonderful city, i am also a little of a vigilante when it comes to how cars treat me. i’ve been known to slap car trunks, walk slower through a crosswalk, yell at drivers, even call the police on one. many a time i have wished i had a coffee or drink or rotten tomato in my hand to throw at the windshield of someone who doesn’t obey the crosswalk rules.
well, the Portland Tribune has a great article today about how dangerous it is getting in Portland and Oregon as a whole for walkers and bicyclists. 9 people so far this year have been killed by drivers while out walking and biking. and get this, down in Salem, they want to repeal the law requiring drivers to wait for a pedestrian to fully cross a crosswalk and replace it with a 6′ buffer zone. when driving, do drivers really know how to gauge 6′ feet?
so, keep both eyes open and watch the cars because sometimes they aren’t watching for you.
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Oh, yes. I enjoy waiting for the walker to get across the seven lanes before I make a right turn. I enjoy the panic stops for the jaywalker oblivious because of the iPod ear buds they are wearing or the person trying to cross when the signal is “DONT WALK”.
There are inconsiderate walkers as well as drivers. Both drivers and walkers need to be watching out for each other or the number of walkers will continue to be reduced.
You know Diesel, this sounds a lot like the post I made about bikes awhile ago. I think PLM has a point, but I think yours are equally valid.
As a pedestrian and a driver, I think that it’s stupid for them to pass another dumbass law we don’t have the resources to enforce. It’s a load of crap. So what if they pass it? Are the police going to be more vigilant about it? Will there be more tickets? Will they come down equally on impatient drivers and stupid pedestrians alike? If so I’m all for it. If not, they are wasting their time.
PLM, while i agree with your sentiment that it is a two way street (no pun intended), i don’t think there is any equality between a 3000-6000 vehicle and a 200lb pedestrian. wether the pedestrian is fully breaking the law, the driver has the ulimate responsibility to drive defensively in my humble opinion. i will think about your comments when out walking and try an be a better pedestrian. yesterday afternoon, i noticed i was walking through an intersection, completely oblivious to the sign and thought of what you said. i too have an affect on the situation.
Banana - i agree fully about the law. they don’t even arrest open drug dealers on the bus mall anymore. what truly will a new law change. yet, i’m a glass half full person, so i have hope.
I agree their is no comparison between the mass of a car and a pedestrian. There is also no comparison between stopping distances! Expecting a car to stop on a dime can be fatal. When a motorist injures or kills anyone, no matter the victim’s mode of transportation, that driver is most likely affected for the rest of their life. Having to brake unexpectedly can cause accidents or at least scare the bejeezus out of the driver. Everyone just needs to be attentive, courteous, and follow the law. (I know, I know, but I can dream can’t I?)