tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post1179943755901918314..comments2024-03-28T06:21:34.602-06:00Comments on twin city sidewalks: The Case of the Militant PedestrianBill Lindekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11373780012930618768noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-37455495727875025032018-10-09T13:12:37.986-06:002018-10-09T13:12:37.986-06:00An excellent list! I would go easy on cyclists and...An excellent list! I would go easy on cyclists and their lights. The balance b/w too bright and too dull is hard to strike for many people without easy access to gear etc. Bill Lindekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11373780012930618768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-73399832352561330622018-10-09T12:37:41.119-06:002018-10-09T12:37:41.119-06:00My ...irritants.
1. Drivers who think bike lanes a...My ...irritants.<br />1. Drivers who think bike lanes are their personal parking spaces.<br />2. Drivers (including law enforcement) who think that traffic signals and traffic laws are mere suggestions. This includes the same law enforcement vehicles ignoring the NTOR sign in front of the local government building every day.<br />3. The drivers (who can't) that start to make a right turn across my path, and then stop while yelling "I won't hit you...". Prove that you won't hit me by not starting a right hook turn.<br />4. Drivers who pull out of a side street, and then back up when they see a car or bicycle approaching. A guy did this morning, and ended up backing into the car behind him. Karma may be a female dog, but I still like her.<br />5. Phone zombies of all varieties. There are too many too list.<br />6. Bicyclists who strap an overly bright flashlight or strobe light to their handlebars that blinds oncoming riders and drivers. There are inexpensive STVZO bike headlights on Amazon that have focused beans that allow you to see and be seen without blinding other drivers and riders.<br />7. Walmart headlights and tail lights that have one candlepower, and that require an Act of God to be seen.<br />8. Bicyclists who are trying to get a Darwin Award by riding the wrong way, using their phones, ignoring traffic signals, and/or wearing earbuds/headphones while riding in rush hour traffic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-14365888854633706902010-08-18T03:59:01.037-06:002010-08-18T03:59:01.037-06:00I wrote an article for article magazine last year ...I wrote an article for article magazine last year on militant pedestrianism. I think you will enjoy! Glad to know I am not the only one considering these things<br /><br />http://issuu.com/article/docs/issue7/2?zoomed=true&zoomPercent=100&zoomXPos=1&zoomYPos=0.42127921279212793@andowjamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-59483348793320217682008-07-18T17:37:00.000-06:002008-07-18T17:37:00.000-06:00No matter who was right, a edestrain simply isn't ...No matter who was right, a edestrain simply isn't a match against a 1/2 ton of steel and plastic. Too many drivers out there gabbing on their cells, not paying attention. You never know what will happen at our intersections here in the Twin Cities. So many people run the red lights. I probably would have waited, the safest bet.<BR/><BR/>Cool, thanks for thinking my pic worthy of using here.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06487228375145939026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-54412372301921068322008-07-01T17:49:00.000-06:002008-07-01T17:49:00.000-06:00I live in Utah where left turns are always yields ...I live in Utah where left turns are always yields and cars are always "blocking the box." It's so annoying, especially when these situations come up for lone pedestrians, such as myself.<BR/><BR/>But I would have let the car go. I'm not that brave.<BR/><BR/>Love your blog, by the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-87853275484419194382008-06-30T19:04:00.000-06:002008-06-30T19:04:00.000-06:00While technically the car was not breaking a law, ...While technically the car was not breaking a law, or in the wrong, the pedestrian, especially in a crosswalk on a green light, always has the right of way. I personally do not put my body in front of a car, even when I have the right of way, because a militant car will trump a militant pedestrian in a collision, but I have been stuck in the intersection waiting to complete my turn, and had to wait for the pedestrians to clear the way. It means I get honked at, but that's life. The worst intersections for these kinds of interactions are in my neighborhood, Uptown, where I have had drivers almost mow me down when I was already halfway across the street because they were trying to beat traffic on a left turn and looking the other way. That's when I wish I carried a golf club.momohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12149328149132703479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-60260674311641218722008-06-27T10:33:00.000-06:002008-06-27T10:33:00.000-06:00At an intersection, cars are allowed to pull forwa...At an intersection, cars are allowed to pull forward into the intersection on a green light while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear (or stop) before taking a left turn. Often, this involves pulling forward on green and waiting for the light to turn red, so that oncoming traffic stops. At that point, you can take the left turn. Traffic (and pedestrians) from the sides must wait for you to clear from the intersection before proceeding. This is not considered running a red light. Running a red light involves entering an intersection while the light is red. If the light is green or yellow, you are allowed to enter the intersection. As long as you clear the intersection when the light turns red, you’re just fine.<BR/><BR/>Often there is no left turn green arrow and pedestrians start crossing immediately when the light turns green and keep going until red, preventing left turns. Thus often the only time you can make the left turn is when the light finally turns red.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-66935150414770883502008-06-27T10:21:00.000-06:002008-06-27T10:21:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520928613898310702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17629790.post-80207845696661491362008-06-27T07:38:00.000-06:002008-06-27T07:38:00.000-06:00One of my favorite aspects of city life is that so...One of my favorite aspects of city life is that so many people, in such a small area necessitates compromise. <BR/><BR/>I personally think stringent rule following is more of a suburban mentality. I think you friend should have let the car move out of the intersection. Certainly the cars would have returned the favor by allowing him to finish crossing.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269388343241893981noreply@blogger.com