Better than permit parking tickets....
Sep. 14th, 2010 12:45 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
bobobb.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareSo everyday when I walk to and from work in the Davis/Tufts/Ball Square area I am a good little pedestrian and only cross in designated crosswalks, waiting for cars, crosswalk signals etc. And everyday I have to dodge a driver who is not paying attention, or does not care and very nearly runs me down. This is particularly bad at powderhouse circle, where the crosswalk signals are completely ignored by drivers.
The other day though, a driver did this right in front of a cop and got pulled over -- Yeah for me! And so I was wondering....nearly running over a pedestrian in a cross walk is punishable by up to $200 ticket *and* is a public safety issue. Couldn't the city just park a cruiser at powderhouse circle or some other place where violations are common and start ticketing people for that rather than focusing so much on the $50 permit parking tickets (which is not a public safety issue as far as I can tell)? Is there some reason they don't do this?
Sorry if this comes across as car negative.....
The other day though, a driver did this right in front of a cop and got pulled over -- Yeah for me! And so I was wondering....nearly running over a pedestrian in a cross walk is punishable by up to $200 ticket *and* is a public safety issue. Couldn't the city just park a cruiser at powderhouse circle or some other place where violations are common and start ticketing people for that rather than focusing so much on the $50 permit parking tickets (which is not a public safety issue as far as I can tell)? Is there some reason they don't do this?
Sorry if this comes across as car negative.....
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no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 05:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 05:31 pm (UTC)But when you just bolt out in front of me, nowhere near a light or a crosswalk? Unh uh. And as I said, this happens to me more frequently than not being able to get across as a ped. And I spend more time on foot/T than I do in my car!
It's like cyclists. We all share the roads in some fashion. We need to all be courteous of one another.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 05:41 pm (UTC)Usually on my street I'll wait until I have nearly enough time (and am sure that the car I'm about to cross in front of isn't speeding like crazy), and I'll take a few steps out into the crosswalk and wave. If they see me and stop, awesome. If they don't, I flip them off in my head and wait for the next opportunity.
Unfortunately it seems like pedestrians get the short end of the stick in a lot of situations. Someone on foot is pretty much powerless to someone in a car, and if the guy in the car doesn't want to stop, it's tough luck.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 06:00 pm (UTC): ) I will never forget my experiences in Germany and Austria. Pedestrians absolutely crossed at the signals established for them - and only when the signal stated. Bicyclists followed the rules too. I never had to dodge people or cars when driving or walking through any of the cities I spent time in and it was so nice.
It drives me even more nuts when people bolt like this with strollers, small kids in tow, or babies in their arms. JFC...if not for yourself, then at least for your kid!
Unfortunately it seems like pedestrians get the short end of the stick in a lot of situations. Someone on foot is pretty much powerless to someone in a car, and if the guy in the car doesn't want to stop, it's tough luck.
It's sort of a sad commentary, but I'm convinced that the way we treat others while driving, biking, or walking is really indicative of how we truly are as a society.
We commute as a family (my husband works down the street and our daughter is in daycare at my place of work), and he yelled at someone in a car yesterday for almost hitting an old man in a crosswalk.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-15 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-14 09:32 pm (UTC)i see it all the time here, people being all "they HAVE to stop here, just step out! watch!" and it makes me crazy. i admit if i am driving in an unfamiliar area i will miss a crosswalk or two if they aren't clearly marked, but most of the time i do my best to stop for peds when i'm supposed to, and i try to be especially courteous if it's a bad weather day, or i know they're in a spot that's notoriously a pain to wait at (as i'm often a ped too). still, i see so many (esp now that college kids are back) that seem to purposely try to piss off drivers - they walk in herds through green lights when they don't have a walk signal, or they take FOREVER while staring at you smugly, etc etc.
it will also never not bug the shit out of me that really busy overcrowded areas like central have cars getting a green the same time as peds are getting a walk signal. it's really, really dangerous as so many are just watching for one or the other.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-15 01:24 am (UTC)Re: Your second paragraph - yes, yes, and yes. Friday, coming home, a woman just wandered out into Mass Ave, on the phone, like she was out for a Sunday stroll. M slammed on the brakes but didn't beep or yell or anything - and she turned, smiled, and flipped us off!
[apoplectic fit tiem nao]
And again, yes. Having peds x when you're supposed to go, even if there IS a sign (which I've seen in some places) that warns peds to use caution when xing due to cars having right of way too...it's insanity.