Pedestrians downtown who like to cross a road without a walk signal (Chicago: felony, safety)

[squirrels]

I ride my bike to and from work daily, and every single morning I have to swerve or stop in the bike lane because some stupid pedestrian decides they can't wait twelve seconds for the Walk signal to come on.

Next time it happens I'm not stopping and I hope you die.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people? Do you ever look down and notice those big painted letters on the road that say LOOK FOR BIKE? Usually right on top of two narrow lanes that look like they might be reserved for bicycles? Or are you just ****ing stupid?

[MSchemist80]

I've noticed in general the pedestrians in Chicago tend to just walk casually into the roadways regardless of traffic or signals and dare you to hit them.

[squirrels]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

I've noticed in general the pedestrians in Chicago tend to just walk casually into the roadways regardless of traffic or signals and dare you to hit them.

I might pick up a cupholder later and just bring a cup of coffee on my ride, and throw it at the first person who jaywalks in front of my bike each day.

[Lookout Kid]

Usually the biker gets hurt worse in these collisions, which may be why the pedestrians don't care as much.

[Toxic Toast]

I don't think this is a Chicago exclusive. Even in little ol Indianapolis this happens quite frequently.

[Ace Rothstein]

And bikers blow stop signs and red lights. And drivers turn on red when they aren't supposed to and blow red lights. People do dumb things.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Ace Rothstein

And bikers blow stop signs and red lights. And drivers turn on red when they aren't supposed to and blow red lights. People do dumb things.

True, anyone care to start a thread about how they hate when cars make a Boston left here?

[chet everett]

I beleive it is felony to throw anything either from or at a moving vehicle under Illinois law. In Illinois bicycles are vehicles. This give some rights but also some responsibilities.

Don't let emotions overwhelm your capacity for reason.

Get a bell and use it -- bicyclists in everyother country on earth deal with things much better than those in the US. The mindest of foolish weight reduction and recklessness does not serve bicyclists well.

Read this for some perspective: Pedestrian Safety, Pedestrian Rage, Bicycling Safety by Dr. Leon James

[almost3am]

Originally Posted by Ace Rothstein

And bikers blow stop signs and red lights. And drivers turn on red when they aren't supposed to and blow red lights. People do dumb things.

Yeah, this is what i was thinking. I bike daily and am probably one of the better bikers out there (stop at stop signs on major roads, stop at red lights, etc), but I don't complain much due to the general bad rule following of many other bikers.

Car drivers are bad, but they can kill people
Bikers are bad, and they can cause accidents
Pedestrians are bad and they can die

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by almost3am

Yeah, this is what i was thinking. I bike daily and am probably one of the better bikers out there (stop at stop signs on major roads, stop at red lights, etc), but I don't complain much due to the general bad rule following of many other bikers.

Car drivers are bad, but they can kill people
Bikers are bad, and they can cause accidents
Pedestrians are bad and they can die

A bicycle moving at a pace even well below 25 MPH has loads more momentum than a pedestrian -- even with a helmet on one smack into a car, truck, bus, light pole, vending box, transit shelter,etc with enough force to result in permament trauma. Not too many things that'll make you rethink bad behavior in traffic like seeing some formerly fit young person penned up on brain injury unit with mostly Alzheimer's patients slurping puréed peas off a safety spoon and having their diapers changed.