Pedestrians not looking

[Mantadiver]

I broke my wrist on Monday near Nats stadium biking home from the game. A pedestrian darted out in front of me mid block without looking and ran right into me. I have seen many people casually walking into streets looking at cell phones and the like (distracted walking). But this guy just throttled it across the street without even looking. If I was a car he would be dead. He and his buddies help me up, asked if I was ok (I wasn’t), then split rather quickly. I guess they saw their liability flash before their eyes. I am off my bike for 6 weeks which pisses me off the most. Watch out and expect the unexpected!

Topic

[mstone]

@DaveK 32411 wrote:

I’ve been running and almost mowed down without a sound by a right-turning Prius I never saw as I was crossing an intersection. This has happened several times in my neighborhood.

there have been efforts to require cars make a certain level of noise, possibly through a noise generator. seems dorky, but probably a good idea if you have an interest in pedestrian safety.

[baiskeli]

Don’t pedestrians have the right of way though?

[dasgeh]

Only in crosswalks. In DC, you can mow them down with reckless abandon if they jaywalk.

[txgoonie]

New York is trying to wake everybody up!

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670880/pentagram-and-new-york-city-attempt-to-redesign-pedestrian-behavior?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fastcompany%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Company%29#1

[Rootchopper]

I watched a DC cop pivot on his Segway and nearly take out a distracted jaywalker on G Street NW this morning. He missed the walker but just shook his head and gave me a funny look. When you think about it, Seqways are incredibly conspicuous but this walker was looking down at her not-so-smart phone.

[Author]

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