The crosswalk vent

[MichelleCarmen]

GRRRR!!! It drives me nuts when drivers don''t stop at crosswalks.

What irritates me more than ANYTHING is that I have to take two sets of crosswalks to and from my kids'' school and drivers ignore the law that they should stop. When there are no crossing guards (before and after school) people NEVER stop. Okay, well sometimes they do. But, today, I''m leaving and a VW bug slams on it''s breaks to let me cross, but as I''m still walking past their car, they begin creeping forward ONTO the crosswalk as if bullying me to hurry up. This happened another time except the car reved the engine, began moving forward and almost hit me! What is the deal?

Seriously, I think of carrying a bag of rocks with me and throwing them at cars that don''t stop!

Or maybe a paintgun? lol

 

[tlh]

http://www.amazon.com/Tempo-MSAIR8ZH-Air-Horn-8-Ounce/dp/B0000BYRN4

I''ve been tempted to add this baby to my running belt... one so if an attacker comes close I can sound an alarm... and 2 because of situations you''ve described. Unfortunately the jerk in the car usually wins, since ultimately they can do a lot more damage to you and your body, than you can do to their car.... that and their car is replaceable... body parts are not.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I LOVE the paintball gun idea

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/15/2009 1:01:26 PM
Author: MonkeyPie
I LOVE the paintball gun idea

My husband has one too, so I''m all set to go!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/15/2009 12:59:36 PM
Author: tlh
http://www.amazon.com/Tempo-MSAIR8ZH-Air-Horn-8-Ounce/dp/B0000BYRN4

I''ve been tempted to add this baby to my running belt... one so if an attacker comes close I can sound an alarm... and 2 because of situations you''ve described. Unfortunately the jerk in the car usually wins, since ultimately they can do a lot more damage to you and your body, than you can do to their car.... that and their car is replaceable... body parts are not.

hahaha that would be great. Funny thing is the way the road is set up, all the neighbors drive right past there, so chances are about 1/4th the drivers have kids in my sons'' school. So much for setting up play dates. lol

 

[Octavia]

I have less of a problem with cars than with bicycles. Most bikers here just sail right through red lights and often come weaving around vehicles stopped at the light. Since they can't see around large SUVs and trucks, if you're a pedestrian crossing near one of those types of vehicles...watch out. I come close to getting hit at least once a week, usually more like 2-3 times. It's terrible, and there is NO enforcement whatsoever. I quite often yell at them, but they mostly don't care, I think I've gotten maybe 2-3 apologies in the 6 years it's been happening. My favorite was the girl who ran a red light going the wrong way on a one-way street and screamed at ME for getting in her way as I was crossing in the crosswalk with the light. Bikes may be better for the environment, but I swear they're detrimental to my mental health...I'm 100% sure that someday I'll add physical health to that, as well.

 

[AdiS]

Oh well, I guess it''s the same story all around the world then. sigh You know what I''ve noticed though? It''s been grey and raining and basically nasty outside these last few days. I bought this fantastic white coat that makes me look like a snowflake, lol, as a kind of a bad weather-depression-antidote and now the moment I step on a crosswalk (we call them zebras here), the cars actually stop.

I''m very careful and even hesitant since I''ve been hit by a car a few years ago (while taking a crosswalk, ironically), but amazingly, now I don''t even have to wait! I guess being the only bright spot in the people mass of black and grey figures somehow sends a subconscious signal to the driver telling him to stop. It''s funny but it''s true, I swear!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/15/2009 1:15:25 PM
Author: Octavia
I have less of a problem with cars than with bicycles.

Yep, there seems to be the same problem around here. There is an attitude that they have as many rights as cars and deserve even more. There was one bicyclist the other day, who cut across traffic into the center turn lane and then ran a red light causing multiple cars to slam on their brakes and the bike driver was oblivious to how his poor judgement nearly caused a multiple pile-up. Once a friend of mine parked her car, opened her door and a bike driver was coming up behind her and smashed into the open door! lol The bycyclist was weaving in and out of cars and basically snuck up right behind her. He wasn''t hurt and did admit to being at fault.

Generally speaking, being a pedestrian scares me. I feel so much safer in my car. I worry for my kids when we''re in grocery store parking lots when there are so many cars hurring about.

 

[jet2ks]

I'm sure most of you have seen this (since it is about three years old), but it is the ONLY way to go for obnoxious drivers and crosswalks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZCoIege8oM

Side note, I was hit a few years ago by a driver making a right turn as I was crossing in a crosswalk with a walk signal. She just didn't look to see that there might be a pedestrian and even crossed the first lane (that you are supposed to turn into, right?!?!?) and hit me in the second lane! Luckily there was no serious damage to anyone or anything except her wallet for the inattentive driving ticket.

 

[MagsyMay]

Date: 10/15/2009 1:15:25 PM
Author: Octavia
I have less of a problem with cars than with bicycles. Most bikers here just sail right through red lights and often come weaving around vehicles stopped at the light. Since they can''t see around large SUVs and trucks, if you''re a pedestrian crossing near one of those types of vehicles...watch out. I come close to getting hit at least once a week, usually more like 2-3 times. It''s terrible, and there is NO enforcement whatsoever. I quite often yell at them, but they mostly don''t care, I think I''ve gotten maybe 2-3 apologies in the 6 years it''s been happening. My favorite was the girl who ran a red light going the wrong way on a one-way street and screamed at ME for getting in her way as I was crossing in the crosswalk with the light. Bikes may be better for the environment, but I swear they''re detrimental to my mental health...I''m 100% sure that someday I''ll add physical health to that, as well.

I absolutely agree!! At least cars usually make SOME effort to stop at crosswalks, while 9 times out of 10, bikers just fly on through red lights, 4 way stops, etc. It drives me NUTS and is dangerous to the bikers, pedestrians, and other vehicles on the road. GRRR!

I also can''t stand drivers who blaze through crosswalks, having been nearly hit countless times myself as a runner.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I have a question and correct me if I''m wrong but you don''t have to stop at a crosswalk if nobody is crossing and there''s no stop sign right? I''m having a brainfart kind of day, sorry lol

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 10/15/2009 4:45:59 PM
Author: jet2ks
I''m sure most of you have seen this (since it is about three years old), but it is the ONLY way to go for obnoxious drivers and crosswalks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZCoIege8oM

LMAO. Little Old Lady: 1; Driver of Expensive Car: 0.