Crazy PEDESTRIAN!

I saw him as I was coming down the hill. There's a stop light about 3/4 of the way down the hill, and the light was red for my direction, so I came to a stop and unclipped. At 730am, there isn't much traffic at this otherwise VERY busy intersection, and I watched him closely to see what he was doing and tried to anticipate what he was gonna do next. He was hammering "Garage Sale" signs into the dirt next to the sidewalk, and seemed to be in a huge hurry. I know he saw me there because he looked my direction when he heard my squealy front brake. There was a white car next to me stopped at the light too. I watched the guy a little more, waiting for the light to turn green. Right as the light turned green, he began to dart back across the street WITHOUT LOOKING. What happened next happened so fast that I didn't have enough time to react. Right in front of the car next to me, he suddenly realized the light was green, spun around, and darted back across the bike lane and stopped RIGHT in front of me with his back turned to me, blocking the bike lane, and I bumped into his calf. I usually sit a couple feet back from an intersection for safety reasons, and I had already begun to proceed into the intersection. I tried to manouver to avoid bumping into the guy with my front tire, but I couldn't, and I nearly fell off my bike trying to stop & unclip, brake still squaking. I yelled at the guy, "Watch it Man, JEEZ!!!" and proceeded on my way.

And he looked at me like *I* was the crazy one. :mad:

Question is, what could I have done to avoid this? Or, better yet, should I have wasted 15 minutes arguing with the numbskull about using the crosswalk properly, looking both ways before crossing a busy street, or even stopping to make sure his leg was OK? What's the point?

Sometimes I get so frustrated over stuff like this! It goes into my mental "...and WHY do I continue to bike all the time with dipsnits everywhere?!" file. :mad:

"Question is, what could I have done to avoid this?"

probably nothing. My motto is if any car/ped can do something moronic they will. ;-) Just glad that you're ok.

"should I have wasted 15 minutes arguing with the numbskull about using the crosswalk properly, looking both ways before crossing a busy street?"

Probably not. Was it Oscar Wilde who said "I refuse to have a battle of wits with the unarmed"?

"....or even stopping to make sure his leg was OK?"

glad you did that!!

"What's the point?"

S*** happens with jay walkers all the time. At minimum they see bike and think "toy" and do not comprehend we are car speed so they plow into us.

Or these are not athletes, no spatial sense/coordination or....it's what happens when cousins marry. ;-) Sorry bout the catty remark.

=^..^=

Like Thursday ride home I turn a corner fast and a gal is jaywalking (not 10 feet from the crosswalk of course) I motion for her to stop and she keeps right on a goin', she's got a "lights on nobody home" look I took a chance and sped up but wondered cause she looks clueless. I felt bad about it but yelled as I passed "I am going 20 mph, like a car, don't jaywalk" but don't know if she heard or understood me.

Gonna muse and be philosophical here. This community is full of wise, wacky, wonderful, witty, SMART women. One of the things about being above average inteligence whether slightly like me or waaaaay above and I'd venture to say all here are "smarter than the average bear" is that most people we will encounter in life are, well, at minimum equal to or less smart than you. It's simple math.

We all do dumb things right? I drove my bike into the car port! Why did I even date my ex in the first place? Red wine with fish? Sheesh.

So we just have to watch out for the other folks. Glad you are ok.

:cool:

I'd have pepper sprayed him! :eek: ;) Well... a girl can dream can't she??? :p

yikes, we're all getting pepper spray happy on this board.

Just my luck if I used it....wind would be going towards me and spray myself. :eek:

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Originally Posted by bikerchick68

I'd have pepper sprayed him! :eek: ;) Well... a girl can dream can't she??? :p

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BC, that's tame compared to what popped in to my head! :p

trek LOL... yeah wind and pepper spray are bad... :D

yellow... DO TELL! :eek: :D :D :D

I'm on the Crisis Team with the local PD... I've seen enough not to take my safety for granted... I don't live in fear of what may happen but certainly don't want to be a "good victim" either! I carry pepper spray in my vehicle, with me on the bike and especially if I go for a power walk... that being said I DO know the laws on it's use and know I couldn't really spray the dumb pedestrian... tempting as it may be... :p

I went to Sports Authority and bought pepper spray that I can wrap around my wrist where it is 'ready to go' at a moments notice after I was bike riding on a rural road by myself and this guy passed me in his car googling at me. Then as I started up this steep hill a little ways up the road he was at the top waiting for me. As I was almost to the crest of the hill he asked me if I was riding alone! I thought to myself, why don't you just say, "I'm gonna beat you up (or whatever else he had in mind! ) and take your bike". So I told him no, my husband was up ahead and kept on peddling. I know God gave me the strength to crest that hill and shoot past him.

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Originally Posted by bikerchick68

yellow... DO TELL! :eek: :D :D :D

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Oh, it was something like "that little segment o' the gene pool should be terminated immediately!" :D Up to you to decide how it should be stopped! ;)

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Gonna muse and be philosophical here. This community is full of wise, wacky, wonderful, witty, SMART women. One of the things about being above average inteligence whether slightly like me or waaaaay above and I'd venture to say all here are "smarter than the average bear" is that most people we will encounter in life are, well, at minimum equal to or less smart than you. It's simple math.

:cool:

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Now I'm gonna feel all "smartypants" all week long. Thanks, Trek! I needed that after I busted my seatpost bolt tightening it this morning. :o

What a hoot! This posting had me laughing.
I say-
People.....what idiots we can be....Animals on the sideline must be laughing at our silly human bloopers.

Loved the qoute .....
"I refuse to battle witts with the unarmed"
CLASSIC!
Actually that whole reply was on mark, and loved the clever witty wording. I tend to be sarcastic anyway, so it was fun to read. AT TE, we are- "Smarter then the average bear" SO TRUE! :p :cool:
By the way.....
I am also glad you are ok and not injured :)

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

Now I'm gonna feel all "smartypants" all week long. Thanks, Trek! I needed that after I busted my seatpost bolt tightening it this morning. :o

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Funny: smartypants wasn't what came to mind when I read you had broken your seatpost tightening the bolt....I was thinking more along the lines of Herculisa!! ;)

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

Funny: smartypants wasn't what came to mind when I read you had broken your seatpost tightening the bolt....I was thinking more along the lines of Herculisa!!

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It was astonishingly easy to do. I had to order a new one from REI and the mechanic said the bolt might be a bit large for the frame, causing me to tighten beyond its ability to flex. No, I haven't started my upper body workouts yet! :p I'm so paranoid about my steel frame getting rusted that I took everything off and hung it upside-down after it got wet on my bike carrier one day. Oh, well, it was a learning experience.

Some stupid git stepped right in front of me today. I really, really thought that "look before you cross the road" was one of those things that was drilled into you all but in utero! There was just nowhere to go but shoulder-barging straight into him. Luckily, some combination of muscle-memory and reflexes had me well enough clear of the bike by the time I hit the ground and I got off lightly with three bruises and no damage to my dear Tass. The pedestrian was fine, but I kinda wish my foot had connected with some tender parts or other as I unclipped...

[QUOTE=tlkiwi]Some stupid git stepped right in front of me today.

Glad to hear you are ok. Some people must be short a few brain cells I think. I bet he doesn't do that again in the near future. :)

I know that the Rail Trails are "multi-use" and are open to everyone, but I seem to find a higher than average concentration of twits-on-two-feet using them.

I really think they should paint a broken line down the middle to divide it into "lanes" - because the number of people walking four abreast is astounding. Then when I am riding toward them, few even make an attempt to move over to their "own" side of the path - and they're looking right AT me coming toward them - hello??!! I have been forced at times to slow down and go off onto the grass/berm in order to get around them.

Then there are the ones that I approach from behind with the parents, the stroller, the pre-schooler on a bike and the dog on a leash. This is like trying to pass the travelling circus! I slow and announce "on your left" at least 20 yards out - no response. I slow to nearly stopping as the dog and bike are still stretched across to the other side of the trail - "On your LEFT!" I announce. Someone finally realizes that I am addressing THEM as a head whips around. Chaos then ensues as various members of the circus troupe stumble around in various directions trying to decide which side of the trail they should retreat to. The pre-schooler on the bike is still oblivious - as pre-schoolers are wont to do. At this point even though it irritates me, all I can do is smile and laugh at the whole thing as I creep slowly by, still keeping an eye on the pre-schooler-on-wheels.

The "capper" was the other weekend when I approached two female college-age joggers from behind. "On your left, ladies" --- jogger #1 looks over her shoulder and moves over, jogger #2 continues blithely on in my lane. "On your LEFT!" as I slow and come up behind her.... "ON YOUR LEFT!!!"..... no response... am about 10 feet behind her by now " HELLO??..... HEEELLLLOOOOOO????!!!!!" no response. Jogger #1 tells me to just pass her (jogger #2) on the right. I finally do that reluctantly as I am afraid that she will step into me at the last second. As I pass her, I see that she has the MP3 player jammed into her ears and apparently turned up so loud that she is rendered completely oblivious to her surroundings. :mad:

Sometimes I think people are no better than cattle. :rolleyes:

Bustertb "was bike riding on a rural road by myself and this guy passed me in his car googling at me. Then as I started up this steep hill a little ways up the road he was at the top waiting for me. As I was almost to the crest of the hill he asked me if I was riding alone! I thought to myself, why don't you just say, "I'm gonna beat you up (or whatever else he had in mind! ) and take your bike". So I told him no, my husband was up ahead and kept on peddling."

Busterb, I hope you reported this to police, local bike clubs etc. Sounds serious. I'm glad you're ok. This jerk needs to be locked up somewhere.

For my 10 year service anniversary at work I get to choose a gift. Choices include: pearls, ring, watch with no HRM functions imagine that, nixed them all, picked the buck knife. I don't know what the law is on that, don't care. And yep I deeply pacifist at nature and would do everything to never use force.

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Bustertb "was bike riding on a rural road by myself and this guy passed me in his car googling at me. Then as I started up this steep hill a little ways up the road he was at the top waiting for me. As I was almost to the crest of the hill he asked me if I was riding alone! I thought to myself, why don't you just say, "I'm gonna beat you up (or whatever else he had in mind! ) and take your bike". So I told him no, my husband was up ahead and kept on peddling."

Busterb, I hope you reported this to police, local bike clubs etc. Sounds serious. I'm glad you're ok. This jerk needs to be locked up somewhere.

For my 10 year service anniversary at work I get to choose a gift. Choices include: pearls, ring, watch with no HRM functions imagine that, nixed them all, picked the buck knife. I don't know what the law is on that, don't care. And yep I deeply pacifist at nature and would do everything to never use force.

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Buck Hunter 110? That's what I carry too, handy lil bugger! You never know how useful they are until you forget to take them with you!

I don't know what model it is, might even be generic or a Buck-wanna-be, but could be handy for getting spinach out from between the teeth etc. :) :cool: ;)

doctorfrau cracks me up with "On your LEFT!" I announce. Someone finally realizes that I am addressing THEM as a head whips around. Chaos then ensues as various members of the circus troupe stumble around in various directions trying to decide which side of the trail they should retreat to."

this is why when calling out on paths whether it's peds, kids, in line skaters or cyclists of unknown experience level I call out a cheerful "g'morning/afternoon/hello" first. Most "non cyclists" think "on your left" means 'move to your left" yikes :eek:

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Originally Posted by Trek420

this is why when calling out on paths whether it's peds, kids, in line skaters or cyclists of unknown experience level I call out a cheerful "g'morning/afternoon/hello" first. Most "non cyclists" think "on your left" means 'move to your left" yikes :eek:

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Trek420 is right - before I started cycling I had never even heard that (coming from Aust I guess you wouldnt wrong side and all). I saw the movie Spanglish and worked it out (between laughing). :)

As i ride on the bike paths here, i am very very tempted to just run into people that don't move out of my way. Turn of the Freakin Ipod and whatever else you have on and listen to your surroundings. Grrrrr....

The thing is, i usually yell 'on your right' and people often move and look a bit bewildered. I also just say beep beep since i don't have a bell (which is supposedly a law here --bah humbug..a bell on a mtn bike..hahaha...) and they seem to move.

So, if you;re on my bike path and you're either too slow, or just not listening, expect a surprise...

If i come accross as a mean Canadian kiwi...i have my moments...hehehehe

c

If there's not room to get past I usually just call out "excuse me" and ride through whatever gap gets created. It seems to work most of the time.

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Originally Posted by doctorfrau

I really think they should paint a broken line down the middle to divide it into "lanes" - because the number of people walking four abreast is astounding. Then when I am riding toward them, few even make an attempt to move over to their "own" side of the path - and they're looking right AT me coming toward them - hello??!! I have been forced at times to slow down and go off onto the grass/berm in order to get around them.

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YES!! This drives me mad! There have been times when I've been *walking* my bike as close to one edge of the path possible and they still don't move! Do they think I'm going to jump over the edge into the river or simply vanish before they get to me? Once or twice I've even had dirty looks for being in their way! WTF?!?

Reading this thread make me realize that this rudeness/self centeredness/lack of courtesy problem isn't limited to the DC metro area. The rudeness/selfishness/"it's all about ME" attitude is the norm here. Maybe it's because I come from Pittsburgh, PA, where kindness and courtesy was the rule, not the exception. At least it was in 1987 when I moved to DC strictly for employment reasons. It probably has changed, since this seems to be a national problem. I miss living in that sort of place, where people seem to care about each other.
I've had so many close calls on the "multi use" trails around here that there are days when I want to give up riding. Forget cycling on the roads, as the drivers are even worse. I have to admit that many of my fellow cyclists are at fault, as they go way too fast for the "traffic," don't warn when passing, run stop signs, cut corners, wear those insipid IPODs, etc. I actually worry more about them than I do the walkers/joggers, some of whom I see as "trail blockers" due to their refusal to get over. Anyway, there are blind corners where I actually start saying Hail Marys to protect me from any kamikazee cyclists who might cut the corner at high speed and run into me (it's almost happened several times). I think the unsafe cyclists cause a bit of "rebellion" in the walkers/joggers who end up hating all cyclists, even those of us with manners. My new tactic that seems to work is that after I warn people that I'm going to pass and they don't move, I get behind them and say "I can't see around you to pass" and I hang there, but only if I truly can't see around them or if there are walkers/joggers in the left lane. If it's clear, I will go around them. Most of the time when I'm behind them waiting for a "safe" passing situation, they get over and some have actually apologized. They don't like someone on a bike trailing them at slow speed. I always thank them for moving over, too. Kindness goes a long way, and sometimes, I'll pass or encounter them later and they will smile & wave.
I've actually had people thank me for warning them that I was going to pass because so many cylists around here won't take the time to do so.

mickchick, yeah rudeness is rampant and some days it's very hard to be patient especially where ones safety is at risk.

especially here in the US of Automobile seems we've got more newbie riders these days, check out:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051001...s_051001131528

one of the things I love about cycling is the culture, a generally friendlier bunch is not to be found. My theory is many new riders don't consider themselves cyclists, just someone saveing money on gas or fighting the battle of the bulge.

Take my commute for example, please ;-)

Friday ride to work, elevator door opens to take me up to the train, there's a "cyclist" inside loaded to the gills with a back pack, panniers, rear bke rack and even plastic Walmart shopping bags on handlebars! I gotta get me some a' those. Anyway he says
"can you wait a minute while I adjust my bags? I'll be out in a moment"
I calmly say "Ya know, can you help a fellow cyclist out by doing that *outside* the elevator so that I can catch my train?"
"Oh, right, ok" he exits the car, doesn't hold the door for me which slams on my hand.

ya know ettiquette is sorta the social chain lube that makes things run better, some just don't know that I guess.

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Originally Posted by tlkiwi

If there's not room to get past I usually just call out "excuse me" and ride through whatever gap gets created. It seems to work most of the time.

YES!! This drives me mad! There have been times when I've been *walking* my bike as close to one edge of the path possible and they still don't move! Do they think I'm going to jump over the edge into the river or simply vanish before they get to me? Once or twice I've even had dirty looks for being in their way! WTF?!?

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Well, I'm glad it's not just an "American pedestrians are idiots thing" :D Sounds like it's universal.

I did have one "travelling circus" actually ASK me which side they should go to and I told them with a smile that it was just like the highway - You stay right and pass left. (at least in the U.S) Of course some can't figure it out on the highway either! :eek: :D

Around here, the big problem on bike/jogging/walking trails is roller bladers who wear headphones. When you come up behind those and they're zigzagging the entire width of the path, deaf to the world around them, good luck getting past safely. Once earlier this year, I was behind one of these gals and called out to her twice - no response. Since she was swinging her arms really wide, I tried to reach out and tap her arm to get her attention - I mean, since she couldn't hear, what else is there to do? Of course, trying to tap a flailing arm ended up being more than a tap, but still not a bruiser. You'd think I'd whacked the tar out of her - her head jerked up and her eyes were glaring, nostrils flaring . . . I told her, "Sorry -- I tried three times . . ." and held up three fingers. It didn't calm her in the least. I doubt she heard the apology, but hey - nobody got hurt.--

Deb

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Originally Posted by doctorfrau

Well, I'm glad it's not just an "American pedestrians are idiots thing" :D Sounds like it's universal.

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Not at all. In the area I was thinking of when I wrote that it's more than likely a case of "tourists are idiots" so who knows which country gets to claim 'em as their own.

Today, I was thinking about this thread while I rode a very popular local limestone loop trail in a forest preserve. As I came upon a group of two families strung out all along the trail, one of them turned and saw me (well before I was close enough to call out and pass), "BIKE, BIKE" and all the kids scattered and ran pell mell into the woods, arms akimbo! I thought I'd fall off my bike it was so funny. It felt like I was t-rex or something!

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

Today, I was thinking about this thread while I rode a very popular local limestone loop trail in a forest preserve. As I came upon a group of two families strung out all along the trail, one of them turned and saw me (well before I was close enough to call out and pass), "BIKE, BIKE" and all the kids scattered and ran pell mell into the woods, arms akimbo! I thought I'd fall off my bike it was so funny. It felt like I was t-rex or something!

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Jurassic Nuthatch I love it. :D

nuthatch... OMG I can just pciture it... I had to stop laughing before I could type this...

and trek- "Jurassic Nuthatch"... bwahahahahhahahaa :D

thank you ladies, for the laugh! :p

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Originally Posted by Deborajen

Around here, the big problem on bike/jogging/walking trails is roller bladers who wear headphones. When you come up behind those and they're zigzagging the entire width of the path, deaf to the world around them, good luck getting past safely.

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I totally agree about the roller bladers - scary! Yesterday I did a ride on a nice multi-use path, and had to pass 4 roller bladers at different times - I was afraid I would be body-checked into traffic or the bay - there was no way to make contact - I could hear their music blasting out of the earphones as I passed. Generaly the peds and runners were pretty good - the only other hazards were the super-cyclists - passing at top speed (25+mph :eek: ) with no calling out - just wearing those little biker caps, not even helmets - it makes me so mad - when I get my breath back, I usually yell out - "call out please!"

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Originally Posted by bikerz

I totally agree about the roller bladers - scary! Yesterday I did a ride on a nice multi-use path, and had to pass 4 roller bladers at different times - I was afraid I would be body-checked into traffic or the bay - there was no way to make contact - I could hear their music blasting out of the earphones as I passed. Generaly the peds and runners were pretty good - the only other hazards were the super-cyclists - passing at top speed (25+mph :eek: ) with no calling out - just wearing those little biker caps, not even helmets - it makes me so mad - when I get my breath back, I usually yell out - "call out please!"

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I think you girls that live in San Fran are mighty brave. We took our sons down your way to the exploratorium and after took a nice drive along the water front and around the Presidio. I saw some paths running parallel to the road and thought is that great and then I saw what the cyclists had to dodge. I felt a tad stressed and I was in the car. :D Then we head back thru the city to go home and there are cyclists going fast all decked out in snazy gear weaving in and out of cars and trams and yep you guessed it Im feeling stressed again and the cyclists mind you are looking calm and happy as larry. I think I better stick to the country roads - all that mentally dodging traffic and pedestrians for the cyclists in San Fran wore me out. :D

I live on a Rail Trail, and when I want to take a mindless and relaxing ride, I hit the trail and avoid the traffic on the road.

I have learned to take my patience and my sense of humor with me, especially on gorgeous Sunday afternoons such as today. We get entire church outing groups on the trail, often walking in gaggles of 4-8 people, or biking rather randomly along with the walkers.

I sometimes use my bike bell, because the crisp "ting!!" it emits seems to get people to pay attention better than my voice does.

Either way I get a kick out of the people who seem to forget to read the trail etiquette signs, and have no concept of keeping right. When I ring my bell or say "on your left" these folks all startle, look around behind them, and whoever is on the right moves left while whoever is on the left moves right!

And of course as you mention, adding in a preschooler on or off of a bike, and a dog, on or off the leash can really make it interesting.

But all of that said, as a Rail Trail neighbor and Rail Trail Board member, it makes me very happy to see all the people who come out to enjoy the trail that I have helped to develop! I feel better about the state and federal tax dollars spent to develop the trail when I see it very busy!

Rollerbladers. Dogs on long leashes. Children tooling around on little bikes with training wheels (cute, but unpredictable!). IPod wearin' stroller pushin' jogger mommies. Elite jerks riding too fast. Little old ladies who don't know that there really is an actual separate path for bikes. These are a few of the hazards we must all endure on mixed use trails.

Elitist roadies laugh at the bell on my bike. But I like it - it's cheery, and I can usually get people's attention much sooner than I could by calling out as I'm right on their ***. Every so often I get someone who acts like they've never heard such a thing before, but they also usually act like they've never seen a bicycle before too. I ring my bell before riding into blind spots, and use it copiously in those few places where I'm forced to ride on the sidewalk.

I've come to really despise people who have headphones on and aren't aware of the world around them.