drivers in Pittsburgh (Smithfield: how much, live, cars)

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I Jaywalkers frequently DO slow me down, especially in Squirrel Hill, as they just force their way out between vehicles and then slowly amble across Forbes Avenue (which has a large and well-respected mid-block crosswalk between Murray and Shady) or across Murray Avenue (which has a signalized crosswalk seemingly every few hundred feet) as if they don't have a care in the world.

Yep. Some of the elderly jaywalkers are just brilliant. When I get old enough that I stop caring about what people think and whether I live or not, I'm going to become one of them. I'm going to go back and forth between Eat 'n Park and Pamela's all morning having an extended breakfast at both sites.

Also, the crosswalks on Murray are close to useless because of people turning.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

Yep. Some of the elderly jaywalkers are just brilliant. When I get old enough that I stop caring about what people think and whether I live or not, I'm going to become one of them. I'm going to go back and forth between Eat 'n Park and Pamela's all morning having an extended breakfast at both sites.

I realize you probably posted this sarcastically to mock me for not having more sympathy for people who "need" to jaywalk, but I didn't specify that only the elderly were the biggest offenders for jaywalking in Squirrel Hill.

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

Also, the crosswalks on Murray are close to useless because of people turning.

Doesn't matter. I always yield to pedestrians who are crossing when I'm turning onto their street and into their path of travel. Pedestrians shouldn't disregard crosswalks because some other drivers decide to turn into their path. Contrariwise I've just about walked INTO fenders of vehicles turning into my path while I was crossing with the signal in my favor and have screamed profanities at those offending drivers. I have much more sympathy for someone who crosses the street I'm turning onto against the "WALK" signal than someone who chooses to cross the street mid-block and give me the "scowl" for not yielding to them.

Pedestrians at crosswalks just need to be more aggressive, as I am. I haven't been hit yet while in a crosswalk, and if I DO get hit the driver will be hearing from my attorney.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I realize you probably posted this sarcastically to mock me for not having more sympathy for people who "need" to jaywalk, but I didn't specify that only the elderly were the biggest offenders for jaywalking in Squirrel Hill.

I was mocking you, but I wasn't being sarcastic, if that makes sense. Those people keep car traffic slow and make the street nicer for everybody except people who use the neighborhood as a passage from one place to another. I appreciate them, unless I'm in a hurry.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

I was mocking you, but I wasn't being sarcastic, if that makes sense. Those people keep car traffic slow and make the street nicer for everybody except people who use the neighborhood as a passage from one place to another. I appreciate them, unless I'm in a hurry.

I need to reiterate that while I have admitted on here to "flying" on the Parkway, through Schenley Park's "highway-esque" parts, etc. in other threads I really do NOT speed at all through residential or pedestrian-oriented commercial areas. With the way the lights are synchronized (or not) in various parts of town, though, yielding the right-of-way to one jaywalker, especially in Oakland, could totally ********* for hitting all of the remaining traffic lights correctly, thus prolonging your drive to your destination. Not a big deal if you are one of those moonlighting elderly jaywalkers just trying to drive to bingo or your hair appointment, but if you're in the delivery or traveling sales businesses every additional minute or two is time that eats into your profits.

I live on a street in Polish Hill that is low-traffic yet very high speed as people zoom through here to other neighborhoods, so I'm empathetic to the plight of those who live along higher speed routes and try to do right around the speed limit through them at all times.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

The other day I just walked right out into traffic as I crossed Beechwood Boulevard at the WELL-MARKED (yet completely ignored) crosswalk at the intersection of Loretta Street while making a delivery just as an experiment. Needless to say I came pretty close to being hit, but I didn't actually get hit. I gave each motorist a very angry scowl in the process.

Mid-block jaywalkers shouldn't be yielded to, as it just further "rewards" bad behavior.

Those who are entering crosswalks SHOULD be yielded to.

I agree that jaywalkers shouldn't expect a yield. They should only cross quickly when it is safe to do so. I also feel that walkers shouldn't step into a crosswalk until there is enough stopping distance for cars to stop. It's just downright insane to expect cars to stop on a dime just because they jumped out into traffic because they thought the crosswalk was magical.

Originally Posted by Caladium

LOL LOL LOL OK this post wins some sort of award for best post of the day. The Crossing Scowl! Love it. Must remember to do this!

Q-tip's post was award winning!

He perfectly depicted how to I said to properly stare down drivers.

Crosswalking is psychological warfare and only the best actors survive.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Didn't we have another thread about pedestrian treatment in Pittsburgh before?

It couldn't have been as good as this one!

[minthotchocolate]

Originally Posted by Q-tip motha

You're going to have to practice your crossing scowl. I feel like a historical figure that best illustrates the effectiveness of this was one John Brown. Simply walk out in the road (give them plenty of time to react, and make sure you make eye contact), and do your thing after they stop.
...

Q-tip motha you made my day!!!!

I had just ventured outside and employed your tactics. It worked!

(Or maybe it was the dress!)

[minthotchocolate]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

If you're Canadian, it might take you a while to get used to it, but yelling back is allowed. It's never gotten me hit. Once a guy parked like he was going to get out of his car, but he didn't.

Vancouver has it's own issues. Inability to distinguish between yellow and red lights is the most notable one. But at least we don't try to destroy our pedestrians!!

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by minthotchocolate

Vancouver has it's own issues. Inability to distinguish between yellow and red lights is the most notable one. But at least we don't try to destroy our pedestrians!!

I heard everybody in Vancouver was stoned to the gills and maybe that explains why they aren't trying to kill anybody. I'm not from here either. It takes about five years to get the hang of it.

[sealie]

The Seattle suburbs used flags:
Pedestrian Flags - FAQs

This works a lot better than you would think, but it helps if your motorists don't start out crazy in the first place.