Pet peeve

[oldbikechick]

I see many dumb behaviors on the road, but few rise to the level of the drivers who, when observing one lane of traffic stopped for a crosswalk, proceed to speed around the stopped cars, through the crosswalk. I like to believe that these people are just oblivious, not actually knowingly risking plowing into someone in the crosswalk because they can’t be bothered to stop. Otherwise, it’s pretty indefensible. It happens at every crosswalk crossing two lanes of traffic that I use. Today was a new low when I was crossing a residential street with just one lane of traffic each way. In both directions, cars stopped to allow me and and two little kids to cross at the crosswalk. Before we could do so, a woman passed at least 4 stopped cars, on the right, passing between the stopped cars and two little kids on bikes waiting to cross. What if we had started to cross? I feel like this should be a mandatory part of the driver’s test. If you pull that move, you fail.

Topic

[bentbike33]

@jabberwocky 141091 wrote:

All I remember was seeing the Maryland plate as he sped off. :rolleyes:

And the BMW logo?

[Sunyata]

@ginacico 141069 wrote:

The point is it’s not at an intersection, and completely obscured by heavy traffic.

I wonder if these non-intersection or non-light controlled crosswalks be signed better? I think having a “crosswalk ahead” sign, similar to the “stop ahead” signs, might be beneficial. In addition, perhaps making the standard crosswalk signs larger and more prominent could help. This way, at least drivers can be somewhat forewarned that there is a non-light controlled crosswalk ahead.

Raised crosswalks could also help, but it may not help with being able to tell that there is a crosswalk ahead.

[Author]

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