pittsburgh crosswalk protocol (school, gated, taxi)

[ctoocheck]

Originally Posted by kramhorse

Drivers have a greater moral obligation to obey the law.

Unfortunately people don't have to pass a morality exam to get a license. Heck, you barely have to do anything. It's kind of silly. I would be in favor of requiring driving classes before you can get your license, maybe even including on-the-road training. They do that here in Germany (along with charging a big fee) and the drivers are usually noticeably better than in the US - they even stop for pedestrians! Although, if you cross against the signal they will make a point to try to maul you.

[mjost7]

I don't know why you don't know why I mentioned that.

But anyway I agree that too few drivers stop for peds in crosswalks at unsignalized intersections. A nice exception is in Squirrel Hill on Forbes Ave. Drivers usually stop at this mid-block crossing.

There is also a problem, as I mentioned, at signalized intersection crosswalks.

[groar]

i was driving with my coworker once and she drove through a crosswalk as someone was trying to cross. i was like "hey, yield to peds!" (yes, i actually said that) and she told me she thought you only had to yield at crosswalks that actually have the "yield to peds" signs/flashing lights, etc. sigh.

i remember a few years ago a friend of a friend was killed crossing in a crosswalk on braddock by frick park. someone actually wrote in to the paper that it was her fault because she didn't go down to the corner of forbes & braddock where there's a light. can you imagine?

she's the reason that there are now signs & flashing lights at all those crosswalks.

[Tinare]

I kind of wish that there was some sort of retesting. Like every 5 or 10 years you had to retake a test on the rules of the road. Too many folks took their test at 16 and never thought about the actual rules again. They lapse into bad habits and make things like the "Pittsburgh left" and parking far, far too close to corners and stop signs far too common in addition to not knowing about yielding to pedestrians...

[kramhorse]

I don't know why you don't know why I mentioned that.

Sorry mjost7, when you mentioned the walk signals I thought you were doing a "blame the pedestrian."

[ctoocheck]

Here's another interesting article I just found about jaywalkers:
A defense of jaywalking. - By Tom Vanderbilt - Slate Magazine

Another topic to bring up regarding crosswalks and pedestrian safety is street design. At places where cars should slow down for pedestrians (or just in general), it would probably be helpful to use brick/stone pavement on the roadway instead of asphalt (I think most would agree that they go much slower down block streets than they would if it was a smooth surface.) Painting lines isn't always enough. And it would probably be much prettier than big signs with flashing lights. Something like that. Use "traffic calming" measures.

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by groar

i was driving with my coworker once and she drove through a crosswalk as someone was trying to cross. i was like "hey, yield to peds!" (yes, i actually said that) and she told me she thought you only had to yield at crosswalks that actually have the "yield to peds" signs/flashing lights, etc. sigh.

I almost said "unbelievable", but it really is.

[groar]

i also got into an argument with the same coworker because she was turning left, and she yelled at someone who was crossing in her way, because "she has a red hand". it was a flashing red hand and she couldn't understand what that meant until i said "it's like a yellow light".

if i get into her behavior regarding bicyclists it will probably start a huge flame war so i'll stop there...

[creepsinc]

I'ven noticed a problem with crosswalks here, but I'd notice it anywhere after living in Seattle. They're so strict about jaywalking there that everybody knows somebody who's gotten a ticket ($54 last I checked). I got a warning once, but that's it. The bright side is that EVERYBODY stops for pedestrians there, even taxi cabs. Step one foot into the street and traffic stops like magic. It's also much easier to drive, because peds actually pay attention to walk signals.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by kramhorse

Last week, I was waiting with my kid for a clear moment to cross at friendship park when I experienced the first exception to the rule: a driver actually stopped for me.

I'm not making excuses, but I'd like to explain the mindset. Most Pittsburghers will stop for someone IN the crosswalk. But don't expect a Pittsburgher to stop while you're waiting on the sidewalk to cross. Pittsburgher's don't do that. They're not required by law to stop until you are literally in the crosswalk.

Another Pittsburgh attitude is driving through once a pedestrian has passed far enough but isn't completely out of the crosswalk. I guess pedestrians just take too long to cross for some people. The drivers must think that it's okay since the pedestrian already passed their vehicle. They dont' realize that it's dangerous because the pedestrian might not have somewhere safe to run if another car comes speeding through on the other side.

Bottom line: Pittsburghers expect pedestrians to be aggressive. They'll take advantage of you if you're not.