The Pedestrian is King?

[Davidsw8]

Bracing myself for a bit of an attack on this one but I've got a bee in my bonnet this morning so I'm throwing caution to the wind

I had several encounters with pedestrians on my commute to work today, some just rude and inconsiderate, one potentially dangerous:

The dangerous one is on Horseferry Rd in London where loads of peds get off the buses, stream across the road between traffic and stand in the central hatched road markings. I have to come off Lambeth Bridge, down Horseferry, get in to the right of the lane and turn right to go down to Smith Sq. As I cycle down, I've got buses stopped on my left, cabs, vans and everything else behind me and so I'm edging right (looking over my shoulder repeatedly) so I can safely make my turn but then I'm faced with a group of peds just stood there right in my path waiting for their chance to sprint. So, I can either plough through them or take primary and stop the traffic behind me until I'm ready to go.

I could understand this madness if there was no where to cross but there's a light controlled crossing 500 ft west and a zebra crossing 300 ft east of this spot (I looked it up on Google Maps). If these peds don't mind getting hit for the sake of walking 300 ft that's fine by me, but I don't want to end up under a bus - and the alternative routes around this have their own challenges so I don't have a choice.

The other encounters are the usual 2 types:

1. Those that don't look and cross. I'm coming round a square and need to turn left off it, I'm approaching the turn and 2 middle-aged women start to cross the junction with their backs to the flow of traffic, I dinged my bell a few times and one of them glanced over as they were nearly all the way over.

Highway Code - Rules for Pedestrians: 'At a junction. When crossing the road, look out for traffic turning into the road, especially from behind you. If you have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, you have priority and they should give way.'

2. Those that look but cross anyway. In a one-way system, I'm cycling up a road and need to take a right, I've got my arm outstretched indicating my intention, I'm turning the corner (no stop lines as it's one-way) and a man in his 20's looks right at me as he nears the kerb, doesn't break his stride and continues to cross right in to me - missed him by a foot!

Highway Code - Rules for Pedestrians: 'If traffic is coming, let it pass. Look all around again and listen. Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time.'

I know some people say that the pedestrian is the most vulnerable and all traffic should stop to let them cross the road wherever they like but I do wonder why we waste money creating crossings if they don't need most of them. I don't behave this badly as a ped and I don't feel like my journey's are any longer for simply doing the right thing...

Sorry for the rant and I don't know what the solution is but seriously, what the F is wrong with people?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I think it's the all-consuming need to be somewhere else. Probably not much help, I'm afraid.

 

[ManiaMuse]

Just be patient and chill out. You'll live longer.

 

[Matthew_T]

I have learnt from my mistakes with pedestrians. I used to wizz past them or blast my horn if they walked out without looking.
Now I just slow down and avoid them.

However there was one acception where the guy crossed on a green for me after looking right at me. He got a good stare and head shake.

 

[Monkreadusuk]

Almost makes me want us to folloe the US and have jay-walking enforced. But then again, maybe I dont :P

It does annoy me when I see people crossing the road just yards away from a proper crossing.

 

[fossyant]

Where is the "give way to pedestrians" ?

In areas where there are high instances of people walking about, then the game is off - chill, and take your time.

 

[Sittingduck]

All part and parcel of commuting in a busy urban environment, I'm afraid. FWIW, if I was on foot, I doubt I would go 500ft the wrong way to use a crossing and then come 500ft back to get to where I started again. It's human nature to take shortcuts.

 

[Spinney]

All road users should show consideration for other road users.

The peds you encountered did not.

 

[Glow worm]

I bet the road layout/ street furniture is designed first and foremost for the benefit of motorised traffic. I don't think you can blame peds for crap road design where their well being/ convenience is purely an afterthought.

 

[Davidsw8]

All part and parcel of commuting in a busy urban environment, I'm afraid. FWIW, if I was on foot, I doubt I would go 500ft the wrong way to use a crossing and then come 500ft back to get to where I started again. It's human nature to take shortcuts.

I know many people wouldn't (demonstrably) but I would, it's just not worth the risk. And I have seen the aftermath of a serious accident there last summer so it clearly is a damn stupid risk to take.

In my experience, rushing around and cutting corners doesn't get you anywhere any quicker. The amount of RLJ'ing cyclists that pass me waiting at lights that I end up catching up with is ridiculous.

People need to just chill out (and I include myself in that )

 

[Davidsw8]

I bet the road layout/ street furniture is designed first and foremost for the benefit of motorised traffic. I don't think you can blame peds for crap road design where their well being/ convenience is purely an afterthought.

TFL were going to remodel the area and make it safer for peds and cyclists, they drew up very detailed plans, had a consultation period and timings for completion all laid out. Then 2 months after the scheduled completion date they decide they don't want to bother with it and scrap the whole thing with a whole load of time and money wasted.

Though 2 crossings within 500 ft isn't bad for peds really. It's a fairly narrow road with a LOT of traffic and that traffic has to be able to flow through somehow...

 

[Boris Bajic]

[Post edited]

I know some people say that the pedestrian is the most vulnerable and all traffic should stop to let them cross the road wherever they like but I do wonder why we waste money creating crossings if they don't need most of them. I don't behave this badly as a ped and I don't feel like my journey's are any longer for simply doing the right thing...

Sorry for the rant and I don't know what the solution is but seriously, what the F is wrong with people?

I am a frequent cyclist in London and have been for decades. I sympathise with the OP and recognise clearly the situations he describes and the frustration he doubtless feels.

Nonetheless, I am inclined to let it all wash over me. I subscribe to the view that pedestrians are both highly vulnerable in our cities and should have some privileges. When turning left onto a minor road, I always wait for them. Of course, many fail to look. Some look but proceed anyway. Nonetheless we (cyclists and motorists) should be looking too and should allow them to cross.

The reason I quote one section of the OP is that is might read quite differently if we substituted 'cyclist' for 'pedestrian' and 'cycle lanes' for 'crossings'. There seems sometimes to be a perceived hierarchy on the streets not unlike the (?) TW3 sketch about class. As some motorists believe themselves above cyclists, so some cyclists place themselves above pedestrians. I do not think the OP sees it this way, but there appear to be those who do.

I do not write to mock the OP. I share much of the frustration, but it's just one of those things - like headwinds or uphill sections.

As a motorcycle courier in London many years ago (this.sentence added for the benefit of others) I would collect - or almost collect - pedestrians on Oxford Street who forgot they were abroad and looked the wrong way. Sometimes comical and one might catch them with the brake lever and pull an unintentional stoppie.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Is turning right off the bridge and then first left (Dean Stanley Street?) not an option?

 

[Davidsw8]

I am a frequent cyclist in London and have been for decades. I sympathise with the OP and recognise clearly the situations he describes and the frustration he doubtless feels.

Nonetheless, I am inclined to let it all wash over me. I subscribe to the view that pedestrians are both highly vulnerable in our cities and should have some privileges. When turning left onto a minor road, I always wait for them. Of course, many fail to look. Some look but proceed anyway. Nonetheless we (cyclists and motorists) should be looking too and should allow them to cross.

The reason I quote one section of the OP is that is might read quite differently if we substituted 'cyclist' for 'pedestrian' and 'cycle lanes' for 'crossings'. There seems sometimes to be a perceived hierarchy on the streets not unlike the (?) TW3 sketch about class. As some motorists believe themselves above cyclists, so some cyclists place themselves above pedestrians. I do not think the OP sees it this way, but there appear to be those who do.

I do not write to mock the OP. I share much of the frustration, but it's just one of those things - like headwinds or uphill sections.

As a motorcycle courier in London many years ago (this.sentence added for the benefit of others) I would collect - or almost collect - pedestrians on Oxford Street who forgot they were abroad and looked the wrong way. Sometimes comical and one might catch them with the brake lever and pull an unintentional stoppie.

Hi Boris

We face this every day and yeh, most of the time I can let it go. I don't like it but I just have to accept that as a group, people are lazy and selfish. It was just that this morning, it seemed to be one after another after another and it got to me. The inconsiderate ones I can (usually) deal with, the dangerous ones, I have real trouble with, especially when you see parents dragging children across 4 lanes of busy A-road traffic (e.g. on the Old Kent Rd).

Btw, I'm a pedestrian myself (I know you didn't include me in the TW3 comparison but I just wanted to say) that I try my best to be considerate and thoughtful as both ped and cyclist and as I say, rushing and being an ar$e doesn't get you there any quicker, it just gets you there sweatier

 

[Davidsw8]

Is turning right off the bridge and then first left (Dean Stanley Street?) not an option?

It is, I guess, but I usually want to get off that roundabout asap as it's always manic so going round an extra exit then down Millbank (which is mental) for a bit is slightly worse in terms of more traffic. I've also tried going further down Horseferry and turning right at Tufton but nearly got taken out by a bus overtaking a parked coach... As I say, this seems to be (perversely) the safest option.