Great dozy ped

[Arch]

Had a brilliant dozy ped on the way home. Just crossing from Coppergate to Stonebow, on a green light, and as usual a few peds chanced it across the crossing ahead of me.

One woman, the one who was actually in my way, had her head down and turned away from me, so much so that I never actually saw her face, just her shaggy hair. She never looked in my direction at all, or even ahead of her. I slowed and went behind her, saying "Try looking next time" loudly - no reaction at all.

I'm not too bothered about her, but the pram she was pushing and the two small children walking with her....

Also, the fact that there was a car behind me. I might come off worse in a collision with her, but a car ain't going to ...

 

[DrSquirrel]

It sucks being a pedestrian in London, I was there the other day and even if you try and cross properly you get bullied into oblivion (both cars and cyclists) - I am not surprised some act how they do.

I made a genuine mistake at one point and started to cross on a red light (granted there were no cars and its not illegal to cross on a red ped light) because I saw the traffic stop from the one road, everyone else crossed and I made a mistake of following them - there then comes a bunch of cars (and a cyclist that almost went into me) around the corner, coming around at full speed, knowing well there are peds in the road and not at all going at speed that is safe.

To the guy that almost had me on the bike, your wheel locked because you were trying to go too fast... and I wasn't the only one in the road. I made a mistake(although legal) - if you hit me it would have been your fault.


Another part I find is some crossings across junctions have no light control at all and at no point did any car wait for pedestrians to cross, which is what you are supposed to do in a car before crossing the dashed line. And don't get me started on actual Zebra crossings...



I am not surprised that pedestrians act like this, not at all.



I actually very much doubt people walk into the road without looking, even if they don't seem to look at first - it's going to be more of looking early and not checking again and being observant enough.


It's about time London drops to 20 at most everywhere, and someone actually does something about it - the amount of people flying around at easily in excess of 30. Crack down is what we need, costly at first, saving in the long run.

 

[BentMikey]

+1Must admit I screwed up on Weds and came close to taking out a pedestrian. Luckily low speed, low enough that I just managed to avoid his run out to cross, his run back to the pavement, and then back across the road again.

 

[fossyant]

Probably an iPed........... scary they are................ I screamed at one a couple of weeks ago (in a loud "OI".... Manc accent...you know...not a Mag's shrill voice )......... never heard me, until the draft of me going an inch from her nose....'oh wow'.....FFS......

 

[Tynan]

walking out into a road when its not safe to do so, or not even bothering to look is simply idiotic

children are taught how to cross the road, adults seem to not know any more

 

[hackbike 666]

Peds have right of way...We are supposed to look out for them.

 

[Crankarm]

Had a brilliant dozy ped on the way home. Just crossing from Coppergate to Stonebow, on a green light, and as usual a few peds chanced it across the crossing ahead of me.

One woman, the one who was actually in my way, had her head down and turned away from me, so much so that I never actually saw her face, just her shaggy hair. She never looked in my direction at all, or even ahead of her. I slowed and went behind her, saying "Try looking next time" loudly - no reaction at all.

I'm not too bothered about her, but the pram she was pushing and the two small children walking with her....

Also, the fact that there was a car behind me. I might come off worse in a collision with her, but a car ain't going to ...

Surely the fact that she was pushing a pram and had two small children to keep an eye on as well would be more than enough to make you ride more considerately giving them space. Parents and children together are unpredictable. You should have slowed down even stopped rather than shouting at them and probably passing within an inch of their toes. How would you feel if you had collided with either or both of the children and broken their limbs or injured them more seriously? What a great image for those around thinking all cyclists are arrogant selfish dangerous nutters. Brilliant PR.

 

[hackbike 666]

I know my comment was a bit of a wind but I have less of a problem with peds than I ever did....I have a horn fitted but it's rare I use it against them now...I use it against motorists who I think have passed too close or done some sort of dodgy manoeuvre.

I know what they are like in London so I try to ride accordingly.

 

[Tynan]

peds too have a responsibility to behave in a sensible manner, they're not drones that are allowed to go anywhere they like without looking or caring what might happen

 

[hackbike 666]

peds too have a responsibility to behave in a sensible manner, they're not drones that are allowed to go anywhere they like without looking or caring what might happen

Are you sure?

 

[Arch]

Surely the fact that she was pushing a pram and had two small children to keep an eye on as well would be more than enough to make you ride more considerately giving them space. Parents and children together are unpredictable. You should have slowed down even stopped rather than shouting at them and probably passing within an inch of their toes. How would you feel if you had collided with either or both of the children and broken their limbs or injured them more seriously? What a great image for those around thinking all cyclists are arrogant selfish dangerous nutters. Brilliant PR.

Go back and read my post properly, go on, break the habit of a lifetime. I did slow down, and went behind her. I was watching her, and her brood from the moment they stepped out - I had maybe 20 yards clear view of them, so could easily see what was going on. There are always some people crossing blindly at that point, so I'm expecting it.

I was riding at 8-9mph max going across the junction, and slowed to walking pace to pass her.

So, I watch out, and I slow down, and she doesn't look once when she steps out, but just follows the person in front, and I'm the dangerous nutter?



Hackers, I'm well aware that we have the responsibility to look out for peds - hence I didn't hit her, but passed safely past. But it just amused/annoyed me that she never once looked in my direction - or indeed in the other. She was talking to one of the kids the whole time, looking at him. Not a hint of any awareness of traffic. It's a busy junction, with lots of buses and taxis, and as I said, a car behind me, so it's not as if she just glanced and missed the skinny profile of a cyclist.

As I said, if she wants to gamble with her life, that's one thing, but pushing a pram out without looking...

 

[BentMikey]

I meant to add that my comment was meant to be general. I'm sure Arch's riding was lovely.

 

[hackbike 666]

Hackers, I'm well aware that we have the responsibility to look out for peds - hence I didn't hit her, but passed safely past. But it just amused/annoyed me that she never once looked in my direction - or indeed in the other. She was talking to one of the kids the whole time, looking at him. Not a hint of any awareness of traffic. It's a busy junction, with lots of buses and taxis, and as I said, a car behind me, so it's not as if she just glanced and missed the skinny profile of a cyclist.

As I said, if she wants to gamble with her life, that's one thing, but pushing a pram out without looking...

I was on a wind up....

I know what peds are like...

In bold...it's the moral fabric of society...she expects someone else to look out for her...(I think)

 

[Arch]

I was on a wind up....

I know what peds are like...

In bold...it's the moral fabric of society...she expects someone else to look out for her...(I think)

Ah!

We all know what they can be like. Heck, I'm a ped myself when I'm not on the bike, and I'm sure I've made plenty of mistakes. But I haven't walked out into a road without the slightest look since I was... well, I don't know if i ever have. I saw a girl knocked down outside school when I was quite little (or rather I saw the aftermath, not the accident) and the image is still with me. Someone said once, I was the only 30 something they knew who still followed the green cross code.

I even look and carry on looking when I'm crossing and I have the green man, my dad drummed that into me early on.

I don't mind avoiding them, but I reserve the right to tell them what they are dping wrong. Although that failed in this case, as she gave no indication of having heard me, or being aware I was there as I passed. So much so that I wondered if she was deaf - in which case looking would be even more important!

 

[hackbike 666]

Well you are perfect.

I don't think im really surprised anymore by ped behaviour as everybody is in such a damn hurry.

Do you notice when you are a ped...the cars never give way and let you cross?

It's very rare anyway...seems like nobody can be bothered...Had it today as they all drove up to the next set of traffic lights to be caught at...

This country really is turning into a sad state of affairs...No manners.

I will get off of my soapbox now.