Dangers of being pedestrian

[sbj405]

I recently read that you are something like 7 times more likely to die as a pedestrian than in a car. And it just almost happened to me.

I am forced to cross a road that has a crosswalk, but no light. This is a two lane road with speed limit of 35 mph. Should not be this difficult. I believe the law in MD states that a car must stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, but in my own experience that rarely happens. So I am waiting on the shoulder for a clearing in traffic. A car stops to make a left, car behind him passes him on the shoulder and comes within inches of me (snowbank, I had nowhere really to go). After brushing off that scare, traffic on the near side of me stops, I take my life into my hands, and start to cross. An SUV coming the other way stops to let me go. I'm in the clear, right? WRONG. This jackass comes roaring behind and tries to pass him on the shoulder. He would have run me right over. Fortunately, the SUV sees this coming, swerves into the shoulder and the guys stops - stalls his car, too - he he. I gave the guy in the SUV a big thank you (even though he was driving an SUV, right?). It's frightening, schoolchildren and little old ladies have to cross here. I have confidence in my speed and agility to dodge most cars if I had to, but others might not be able to.

Do you find drivers to pedestrian friendly or pedestrian hostile where you live? Anyone ever been hit as a ped?

[trotsky]

1. A girlfriend of mine in college was.

Fortunately no serious injuries, but did get bruised really bad. A left-turner barrelled thru the intersection even though she had the WALK sign. Bastard.

[youngred]

2. Hostile Hostile

and I have been hit as a pedestrian and as a bicyclist as well. Damaged my right knee quite badly when i was hit on my bike.

[el_gato]

3. i hate cars

perfectly reasonable people turn into sociopaths when they get behind the wheel

[Honesthumanbeing]

4. This statistic is wrong

"I recently read that you are something like 7 times more likely to die as a pedestrian than in a car."

http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm

Car occupant is by far the highest of the motor vehicle related deaths--pedestrian is about 1/3 that, with some extra deaths for cyclists.

[Archae]

5. Try being a bicyclist.

If I had a penny for every time I've nearly been smeared all over the road by all kinds of motor vehicles, (most often it's the SUV's,) I'd be able to buy the entire BFEE and still be able to buy out Microsoft.

[sbj405]

6. Got hit by a bus on my bike.

Luckily no injuries. Biking is definitely worse in some areas.

[earthman dave]

7. Amen

Car drivers seem to think that you can cycle along on a strip of road about one and a half feet wide, so here's me, cycling along in the gutter, trying desperately not to clip the pavement (trans: sidewalk) or hit any drains in case I fall or even lean slightly, which will give rise to the smearing effect you mention. I shit you not, there are cars going past about six inches from my elbow at full speed. Terrifying.

Nowadays I take side roads, and on main roads I get up on the pavement and walk.

[Archae]

9. Try being on a road...

Not a city street, and a large truck ROARS past you just inches away at 60, 70 or more. :scared:

[Archae]

10. Oh and of course...

There are the morans who think it's SOOOO funny to lean out a passenger side window and scream in my ear as they drive past. :mad: :argh:

[earthman dave]

12. If you had ninja reflexes...

A smoke bomb through that very window might produce, er, "interesting" effects. :evilgrin:

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. oh, you mean being **a** pedestrian

I thought this was gonna be a warning against not being daring enough.

:evilgrin:

[Kat45]

11. I'm in Boston--what do you *think* the drivers' attitudes are??

LOL

[zizzer]

13. MIlitant Pedestrians of Maryland Unite!

Two words for you Air Horn!

Damn it cars have 'em. Bikes have bells! I want a F***ing air horn to carry around with me! That and maybe a battery powered strobe light and a pocket full of rocks and then MAYBE I would feel that I have some power in a situation that LEGALY is all mine!

OK. I feel a little better. I can actualy wipe the froth from my mouth now. Do you think this topic has a sore spot for me? You bet!

Sadly, there is little anyone can tell you that you don't already know, be careful, wear light colored clothes (a hard one for me, most everything I own is black), did I say be careful ...

Zizzer

[TrogL]

14. Call the local government

presumably the city, and insist upon a proper crosswalk.

Phone the police and ask for them to monitor the crosswalk for a day.

If you've got a video camera, tape some of the hi-jinks and turn it over to the police.

There's no way this should be tolerated.

[sbj405]

15. For some strange reason, my neighborhood has no sidewalks

A nice little community (built in the late '40s/early 50s) with schools, churches, shopping, public transportation all within walking distance, but no sidewalks. It makes no sense to me. Definitely, something I will think about when I buy another house. I have two black dogs and we all have refelctive vests for walking at night.