Indianapolis drivers - obeying cross walk laws and pedestrians waiting (Lafayette: credit, construction)

[TheRickShawMan]

Originally Posted by Grandma(in waiting)

This is something you are going to have to get used to in Indiana.

I moved here from another state where traffic would stop for people at crosswalks, either marked or unmarked. People just learned to slow down for them and stop if someone stepped off a curb. It is not like that here (a friend almost dislocated my shoulder yanking me back from a crosswalk..."What are you doing? Do you want to get flattened?"). Legally, yes, a motorist who strikes a pedestrian in in a marked or unmarked crosswalk would be liable, but that's cold comfort to the dead/injured pedestrian.

Cool, another transplant living in Indy. Yeah, I've noticed that drivers here are not friendly towards pedestrians. Especially for pedestrians like you and me who cross the street in marked cross walks with pedestrian signs at the side of the roadway.

Back in Seattle, there would be police officers on motorcycles ready to pursue and cite any motorist who fail to stop for any pedestrians in the cross walk, or make a turn onto another street before the pedestrian is 1/3 the way to the other side of the median.

I guess the police in Indy are more busy with snow storm warnings and checking out the east side of town.

[TheRickShawMan]

Naptowner. First of all, I'm a male, not a female. Just read my username "RickShawMAN".

I'm glad that you understand where I'm coming from when I talk about drivers speeding up to a crosswalk with a pedestrian crossing the street.

I would expect Indianapolis drivers to be less agressive than drivers in bigger cities. I know that NYC has rude drivers who honk their horns at me to "hurry up" and cross the street. Even if I have that white walking man symbol in my path.

Getting back to New York, I know there are certain non-signal cross walks with signs that state "drivers must yield to pedestrians, New York state law." Hopefully I can call my state representative and have that kind of signage implemented. Especially near IUPUI where I'm a student at.

Originally Posted by Naptowner

I think what the OP is talking about is a dedicated pedestrian crosswalk where there ISN'T an intersection. Read her post: "I have to wait decades at the cross walk for cars to stop streaming from the nearest traffic light intersection in order for me and a good bunch of other students to cross Michigan Street!"

She's not talking about crossing at a traffic light, but at a pedestrian crosswalk. There is one on Broad Ripple Avenue, it has a flashing yellow light and a big sign and still cars don't usually yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. It's not just Indy, but it's definitely a symptom of a city where the rights pedestrians (and bicyclists) are routinely ignored.

[TheRickShawMan]

You're kidding me about downtown and the traffic signals, right?

My friend and I walked to the Pan Am ice rink building one night to go skating there.

We were crossing the street, I believe it was either Maryland or Washington Street, to get to the Pan Am ice rink bldg.

We had the white walking figure flashing in our direction, which of course means that we have the right of way to cross the street.

But guess what? There was this impatient ******** who simply made a left turn onto Washington and almost hit me. This was several inches away from me! I was really angry that I shouted obscenities at the driver, which I shouldn't have. But this kind of agressive, non-friendly pedestrian demeanor in Indianpolis is really annoying me.

Originally Posted by dave.dawsn

Go to a crosswalk with a light. There is one at every block downtown. I don't know what part of Seattle you're from, but I'd guess that if you try to cross in the middle of a busy street, the traffic isn't going to just stop and wait for you to mosey across. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any marked crosswalks downtown that don't have a light, so I can't really comment on that.

In my experience, drivers in Indy are courteous, but it's still city driving. You have to be on your toes and you have to use your head. I almost got lit up by a taxi on Maryland Street when I tried to cross in the middle. That dude was not stopping or slowing down...just be careful and know you're risking it if you don't want to go to a crosswalk with a light.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by TheRickShawMan

But guess what? There was this impatient ******** who simply made a left turn onto Washington and almost hit me. This was several inches away from me! I was really angry that I shouted obscenities at the driver, which I shouldn't have. But this kind of agressive, non-friendly pedestrian demeanor in Indianpolis is really annoying me.

I would put money on that driver being from Hamilton County.

[TheRickShawMan]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

I would put money on that driver being from Hamilton County.

Why specifically Hamilton County? I am a non-resident student here, so I don't know much about the reputations of people from certain townships or counties. I am guessing it's because of Carmel and their upper-class residents (or even "snobs")?

[chalcedony]

From my observations, it's all about enforcement. The laws protecting pedestrians at crosswalks are on the books, just as they are in most cities. But if police don't cite drivers, then it's never going to change.

In Boston/Cambridge, for all we hear about Mass-holes and horrible drivers, I was amazed at how gentle they are around pedestrians. They will almost always stop even at mid-block crosswalks. But they have to, or they will face a $100+ fine if caught in violation.

Contrast that with Washington DC, which is supposed to be a pedestrian friendly city--certainly more than Indy. But use crosswalks at your own risk. No enforcement, and the drivers are much MUCH more aggressive than in Indianapolis. All those busy traffic circles they have there are far worse for pedestrians than Monument Circle. At least at Monument Circle traffic goes slow and I've found them often willing to stop. At Dupont Circle in DC, even the signalized crosswalks are risky.

[domergurl]

I wouldn't call Indianapolis a very pedestrian friendly city at all. This is mainly due to lack of law enforcement on the streets.

Rickshawman, just be careful out there, ok? Drivers, for the most part, WILL NOT stop for you. If one does, chances are that they are west coast transplants.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by TheRickShawMan

Why specifically Hamilton County?

It's his hatred of the suburbs. We're all just plastic frauds driving around in our suburban assault vehicles.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

It's his hatred of the suburbs. We're all just plastic frauds driving around in our suburban assault vehicles.

I don't hate all of the suburbs, just yours.

I spend a lot of time downtown, and I have on more than one occasion been nearly rundown by a HamCo plated car. Spotting that giant green 29 used to be quite easy.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

I don't hate all of the suburbs, just yours.

I spend a lot of time downtown, and I have on more than one occasion been nearly rundown by a HamCo plated car. Spotting that giant green 29 used to be quite easy.

And what you fail to realize, it seems, is that a heck of a lot of us up here in the H.C. are former Indy residents. It's not as if we don't understand urban ways, if you will. Non-pedestrian-friendly behavior can be found throughout the metro area, and I highly doubt Hamilton County residents are more prone to display it.

Fishers has been slowing developing its trail system to connect most subdivisions. Carmel is actually embracing density and a more pedestrian culture. New developments up here must include sidewalks.

Some of your criticisms of things up here are justified. But the way you like to take a broad swipe at Hamilton County comes across as petty, immature and ill-informed.

But to speak to the OP's question, I enjoy spending time in downtown Indy and can't recall it being an issue. Then again, I tend to follow the advice given by others and cross at signaled intersections. I can think of only one time where I've had to give a nasty look to some knucklehead (and I don't concern myself with the origins of the driver). I've felt threatened more by aggressive cabbies driving in Chicago.