Numpties on foot...

[the reluctant cyclist]

Why oh why do people just step out into the road without looking at all?

I presume that the thoughts are that they can't hear a car so it must be safe?!

I can't imagine any circumstances where I would cross the road without looking - not even a glance!

This morning two women - in their 30's I would guess so old enough to know better (!) just stepped into the road right in front of me to cross without looking at all.

I said "it's always a good idea to look into the road before you cross it" - not even in an aggressive way - just as a sort of "helpful" comment!

They just tutted and sighed!

It wasn't a near miss or anything like that - just a bit annoying - had there been another second in it it would have been hard to avoid them (especially when there are two of them).

I wouldn't mind but this isn't a one off it is a regular everyday occurence!

I just can't understand it - have any of you ever thought - can't hear anything must be okay to cross?!

 

[BentMikey]

Surely the correct response is to use an AirZound? That way they jump so high into the air that you can safely pass beneath them before they come back down again. LOL! Only kidding...

It's the nature of pedestrians, they always have done this, and they always will. I just leave more time and space as the risk of a crossing like this goes up.

 

[thomas]

I did the 'helps to look' line once and the person actually apologised I knew she was going to just go for it and I didn't see why I should have to stop.

As for Airzound, have been tempted when going past groups of chavs ...or just press it randomly and apologise that my hand slipped lol.

 

[Jonny]

I agree with BentMikey that this is a perennial hazard. Over time I've learnt to detect the peds who are most likely to wander onto the road, and I adjust my speed and position accordingly. "High risks" are those in conversation, using their phones, I-things or other electronic devices, and near junctions (where you might expect them to be more careful). There is also something about the behaviour, the way they walk, hesitancy, lack of concentration which leads me to exercise caution. I still occasionally get surprised, and evasive action is sometimes difficult, especially when there is plenty of traffic around...

 

[BentMikey]

Apparently they are called diepod users.

 

[hackbike 666]

It's not good though really because I have seen peds lying on the road because they have been hit by a vehicle and I dont always believe it's the car drivers fault.

 

[the reluctant cyclist]

Well exactly - it's just such a dangerous thing to do!

I simply would never trust my ears to tell me the road was clear without looking with my eyes too!?!

I NEVER and I mean NEVER get an apology from anybody who has caused me to stop dead when they stepped out and I am not one of these cyclists who cycles around at a million miles an hour - I am always going a bit slow really!!

I wonder if there are any statistics on how many people have been killed by cars because of listening to ipods/mobile phone texting etc etc.

I used to see somebody walking under the underpass all the time reading a paperback book as they walked along?!

I suppose it's only a matter of time before people are on their laptops while they are walking around too!!!

 

[Tharg2007]

you should contact gmtv and suggest that pedestrians take a walking proficiency test before being allowed to go on the pavement or cross the road, they should also pay a "road tax" because the money used for upkeep of the roads includes the pavement. Peds will have to wear special jacket pouches to display their tax disk so police and pavement cameras can check up on us.

 

[Bodhbh]

I suppose some might remember the Tufty Club, Green Cross Code man, etc. I would have a mental problem crossing without looking even on deserted road, it's been ingrained. I think people should get a dose of the Green Cross Code man again, ideally on their iPoDs and mobiles.

(had a close call with someone crossing the road without looking on their mobile a couple of weeks back, you're watching them but don't believe their daft enuff to go and actually cross without a glance).

 

[Batch]

I get this almost daily on Belvedere Road and Upper Ground (London) with peds blindly stepping out. After riding this route for over a year it still surprises me that people can act so carelessly. I ran into a ped one night here after he stepped out in front of me, I slammed on the brakes but couldn't stop in time and he got a bar end in his kidney and a lesson in swearing.

I get the feeling that us cyclists are being blamed for the close misses and not the numpty peds. "That cyclist almost ran me over" not "Wow, I was really stupid to cross without looking"

 

[Tynan]

Fenchurch Street is like a cheap video game, absurd

And my left shoulder is still sore two months after hitting a ped that launched himself from behind a tall van, from an utterly blind position, the ones you can see seem mild after that

 

[CotterPin]

I suppose some might remember the Tufty Club, Green Cross Code man, etc. I would have a mental problem crossing without looking even on deserted road, it's been ingrained. I think people should get a dose of the Green Cross Code man again, ideally on their iPoDs and mobiles.

(had a close call with someone crossing the road without looking on their mobile a couple of weeks back, you're watching them but don't believe their daft enuff to go and actually cross without a glance).

That's a thought - sending out text messages to remind people to look left and right. Though not just at the point they are about to cross the road as it would only distract 'em!

 

[HLaB]

It's not good though really because I have seen peds lying on the road because they have been hit by a vehicle and I dont always believe it's the car drivers fault.

I was walking along Princess St (Edinburgh) a few years back its a busy for pedestrians but the pavements are really wide. Its a bus only street too and is quite busy with buses. Unexplicity some ped decided to run of the pavement into a side of a Double Decker; there was definately nothing driver could have done about that. The ped bounced off and was unconcious for a bit but I think other than that they were very lucky.

 

[silverbow]

I have one of those Chinese revolving bells, very old fashions but makes a lot of noise and great fun, especially when cycling down hill on a country lane, sun in the air, cool breeze ringing the bell like a crazy 5 year old, my son on the back of the bike screaming faster Daddy FASTER!!! . . . . whoops day dreaming again. God I can't wait for those summer weekends to come.

 

[BentMikey]

Oh, my mate AlexB carries a tinkling bell - this tinkles all the time and seems to be a good way to get pedestrians to pay more attention.