Pittsburgh drivers - pedestrians (Oakland: groceries, automobile, campus)

[FreightTrainRunning]

The Invention of Jaywalking

One key turning point, according to Norton, came in 1923 in Cincinnati. Citizens’ anger over pedestrian deaths gave rise to a referendum drive. It gathered some 7,000 signatures in support of a rule that would have required all vehicles in the city to be fitted with speed governors limiting them to 25 miles per hour.

Local auto clubs and dealers recognized that cars would be a lot harder to sell if there was a cap on their speed. So they went into overdrive in their campaign against the initiative. They sent letters to every individual with a car in the city, saying that the rule would condemn the U.S. to the fate of China, which they painted as the world’s most backward nation. They even hired pretty women to invite men to head to the polls and vote against the rule. And the measure failed.

They also got Detroit involved. The automakers banded together to help fight the Cincinnati rule, according to Norton. “And they remained organized after that,” he says.

The industry lobbied to change the law, promoting the adoption of traffic statutes to supplant common law. The statutes were designed to restrict pedestrian use of the street and give primacy to cars. The idea of "jaywalking” – a concept that had not really existed prior to 1920 – was enshrined in law.

Personally I think that the streets should belong to everyone and I jaywalk with pride.

[erieguy]

"tens of thousands of people a year"? Me thinks there's more exaggerating going on.

[LIRefugee]

Speaking of speed governors, why are cars manufactured with speedometers that go up to 155 or more?

Early in the 1900s, in Boston required that an automobile be preceded by a man waving around a warning flag by ten feet or so.

[WPANative]

Originally Posted by LIRefugee

Speaking of seed governors, why are cars manufactured with speedometers that go up to 155 or more?

Early in the 1900s, in Boston required that an automobile be preceded by a man waving around a warning flag by ten feet or so.

I can't believe where this discussion has gone.......................if someone is in a crosswalk, no matter how a neighborhood is designed...........you stop. Period.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

If I'm turning from Oakland Avenue onto Forbes Avenue, and if these college kids keep marching into my path while their light has been blinking with the red hand for a few seconds, I'll turn and force them to walk around me or yield to me.

This is "College student 101" behavior. I don't usually say this, but. . . it happens in every college town I've ever driven in. I was a visiting nurse in Champaign, IL. What a challenge! I remember a group of ROTC students walking practically in front of my moving car one time. I've lived in Boulder County CO for 30 odd years (yeah, real odd!) and almost every time I drive there I encounter some version of same. I don't remember it so much when I was a Pitt student, but I was a part of the pedestrians then.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by erieguy

"tens of thousands of people a year"? Me thinks there's more exaggerating going on.

In 2012, 34,080 people died in accidents involving automobiles. You want to argue that 14,081 of them weren't caused by a driver breaking the law, I'll listen. But I think you've got a tough road to travel because I usually hear that 1/3 to 1/2 involve a drunk driver. That's not much slack left to play with.

[FreightTrainRunning]

I'm looking forward to the era of self-driving cars that won't even allow the driver to break traffic laws.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Katiana

This is "College student 101" behavior. I don't usually say this, but. . . it happens in every college town I've ever driven in. I was a visiting nurse in Champaign, IL. What a challenge! I remember a group of ROTC students walking practically in front of my moving car one time. I've lived in Boulder County CO for 30 odd years (yeah, real odd!) and almost every time I drive there I encounter some version of same. I don't remember it so much when I was a Pitt student, but I was a part of the pedestrians then.

I feel there is a MUCH better relationship between cars/pedestrians/cyclists in Boulder. The attitude is WAY better. I do agree college students do dumb things when walking around. There are tons of them and they seem to think everyone will yield to them. I don't have a huge problem with it. It is a campus and part of the atmosphere, so people seem to make due.

I tend to give pedestrians a break for the most part, unless I am trying to take a left in front of Target to get on Penn and I have that green arrow that lasts for like one second. That really grinds my gears, but I also know I will never educate those idiots that cross when they shouldn't. I try not to drive much. Pittsburgh isn't as friendly as years ago. People just seem more angry when they drive compared to the 80's and 90's. I think they forgot driving is a privilege and people are lucky to even be able to do so. Spoiled and super selfish people fill the roadways and everyone has a frown on their face. Self importance is the flavor of this generation and there is no stopping it.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

In 2012, 34,080 people died in accidents involving automobiles. You want to argue that 14,081 of them weren't caused by a driver breaking the law, I'll listen. But I think you've got a tough road to travel because I usually hear that 1/3 to 1/2 involve a drunk driver. That's not much slack left to play with.

"tens of thousands" were pedestrians, caused by a driver breaking the rules?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I feel there is a MUCH better relationship between cars/pedestrians/cyclists in Boulder. The attitude is WAY better. I do agree college students do dumb things when walking around. There are tons of them and they seem to think everyone will yield to them. I don't have a huge problem with it. It is a campus and part of the atmosphere, so people seem to make due.

I tend to give pedestrians a break for the most part, unless I am trying to take a left in front of Target to get on Penn and I have that green arrow that lasts for like one second. That really grinds my gears, but I also know I will never educate those idiots that cross when they shouldn't. I try not to drive much. Pittsburgh isn't as friendly as years ago. People just seem more angry when they drive compared to the 80's and 90's. I think they forgot driving is a privilege and people are lucky to even be able to do so. Spoiled and super selfish people fill the roadways and everyone has a frown on their face. Self importance is the flavor of this generation and there is no stopping it.

LOL! 30 years' experience tells me it's not so. The attitude, if anything, is worse. At least those CMU engineers know the basic physics involved in getting hit by a car, and those Pitt health care people have an idea of what one looks like after getting hit!