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Well, see, that's what I had been expecting--that because the east is less dependent on cars and there are more pedestrians, the drivers would be more inclined to look out for pedestrians. But this is the opposite of what I experienced. I live in Las Vegas (have also lived in Los Angeles and Oregon), and although some cars go right through the crosswalk when a pedestrian is trying to cross, the majority will stop. When I was in DC, I tried to cross at a crosswalk that was unaccompanied by a stop sign or stop light about four times, and every time, not one single car out of hundreds stopped. It's not a simple matter of I'm basing my moving decision on some traffic rule thing; it's a matter of I don't want to move somewhere where every resident is arrogant enough to think the rules don't apply to him or her. Now, it sounds like from some of the other posts, that this is just the way it is along the whole east coast--it's just one of those cultural differences.
No, I'm not going to start crossing in the crosswalk before traffic has stopped--that wouldn't really be that safe, would it? And yes, I had made myself visible to the drivers.
A bikeshare program. That would be great, if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that the drivers would have the same amount of awareness of bikers as they do of pedestrians. The subway system is great, though.
Well, see, that's what I had been expecting--that because the east is less dependent on cars and there are more pedestrians, the drivers would be more inclined to look out for pedestrians. But this is the opposite of what I experienced. I live in Las Vegas (have also lived in Los Angeles and Oregon), and although some cars go right through the crosswalk when a pedestrian is trying to cross, the majority will stop. When I was in DC, I tried to cross at a crosswalk that was unaccompanied by a stop sign or stop light about four times, and every time, not one single car out of hundreds stopped. It's not a simple matter of I'm basing my moving decision on some traffic rule thing; it's a matter of I don't want to move somewhere where every resident is arrogant enough to think the rules don't apply to him or her. Now, it sounds like from some of the other posts, that this is just the way it is along the whole east coast--it's just one of those cultural differences.
No, I'm not going to start crossing in the crosswalk before traffic has stopped--that wouldn't really be that safe, would it? And yes, I had made myself visible to the drivers.
A bikeshare program. That would be great, if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that the drivers would have the same amount of awareness of bikers as they do of pedestrians. The subway system is great, though.
I'll be perfectly honest. Cars passing by pedestrians even when they have the right of way.....is only the tip of the iceberg.
A bikeshare program. That would be great, if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that the drivers would have the same amount of awareness of bikers as they do of pedestrians.
A bikeshare program. That would be great, if I didn't have a sneaking suspicion that the drivers would have the same amount of awareness of bikers as they do of pedestrians.
As far as the car-pedestrian thing goes, it'd definitely got to be an East Cost thing (or a Northeast/Mid-Atlantic) thing. I'm aware that pedestrians have the right of way, and if they're in the road I'll let them go, but if someone's on the sidewalk it honestly doesn't occur to me that I should stop. That's the way it is where I grew up so I've never known anything different. I actually get nervous when someone stops for me, because I'm not quite sure what they're doing.
As far as bikes, some people aren't great around them, but I find most bike riders to be complete jerks on the road. They run red lights, hit pedestrians (yes, I've been hit), and ride wherever they please regardless of safety. Not all bikers are like this, I've seen several who know what they're doing, but the majority are horrible. Frankly, I'm more afraid of them than drivers.
You should post this on the Las Vegas forum - that Vegas drivers are good, and east coast drivers are bad.
Out on the Vegas forums, they are convinced that Vegas has the worst drivers of the nation. (I've followed that forum for a long time, and that is a constant theme there).
I live in Las Vegas (have also lived in Los Angeles and Oregon), and although some cars go right through the crosswalk when a pedestrian is trying to cross, the majority will stop. When I was in DC, I tried to cross at a crosswalk that was unaccompanied by a stop sign or stop light about four times, and every time, not one single car out of hundreds stopped.
I've driven in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. And yeah, D.C. area drivers are not as courteous to pedestrians as most drivers in those cities. The west coast just has a more easygoing culture than around here.
Montgomery County, Maryland has recently put conditional stop signs in many places in the middle of streets with crosswalks. This has gotten drivers to yield to pedestrians trying to cross. Photo-enforced speed limits have also gotten drivers to slow down on many of these streets.
Last edited by BigCityDreamer; 10-24-2010 at 10:40 AM..
DC is populated by narcissists who think the world revolves around them, so you are getting in their way if they are trying to make a turn and you are in the crosswalk.
DC is populated by narcissists who think the world revolves around them, so you are getting in their way if they are trying to make a turn and you are in the crosswalk.
But it's not limited to D.C. All the large east coast cities appear to have these same issues. NYC and north Jersey drivers are the worst offenders, IMO.
I walk all over this city and have not had any of these problems. Are you sure you all are talking about DC itself and not the suburbs? Cars are generally pretty accommodating here to pedestrians and pedestrians definitely make themselves a known force. Maybe I'm just a more aggressive walker and make cars stop for me. I don't tend to wait if I have the ROW unless they're flying really fast. It tends to not occur to people to stop if there's no intersection (I don't think it's necessarily an aggressive act. I've been driving and suddenly looked over to see a pedestrian waiting).
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