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aristaea
2007-02-08 07:38 am UTC (link)

Yeah, but what if I'm crossing the street while listening to my iPod on max volume and singing along and doing a little dance—but the walk sign is on and I looked both ways twice before stepping onto the pavement? What qualifies as "tuned out"? (Nevermind that I tend to cross the street as quickly as possible even with my iPod, because I firmly believe that all drivers are playing their own version of Grand Theft Auto.)

Besides, like one poster said, if I am crossing the street at a crosswalk on a green light, then I have right of way, and drivers who want to turn without looking for pedestrians can STFU.

Now, jaywalkers . . . I don't jaywalk as much as I did when I was a kid, and therefore I have no problem if they want to tack on an additional fine for jaywalking while zoned out with gadgets. That could be pretty dangerous.

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	dark_puck 2007-02-08 07:40 am UTC (link)
	I firmly believe that all drivers are playing their own version of Grand Theft Auto ...you mean they're not? D: (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	tyraarane_ 2007-02-08 09:36 am UTC (link)
	The ones in the Midwest clearly are. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	ladysorka 2007-02-08 10:17 pm UTC (link)
	It's 5 points for the walkers, 10 points for the bikes! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	jerel 2007-02-10 05:44 pm UTC (link)
	Only 10 points for the bikes? Wow, it's 50 around her! :) We used to "play" our own live version of Frogger trying to walk off campus for lunch: we had to cross six lanes of traffic, on a road where the posted speed limit was 40, but the actual speed limit was in the vicinity of 60. Ah, good times.... (Reply to this)(Parent)

	hristaesir 2007-02-08 07:56 am UTC (link)
	I have jaywalked with my iPod exactly once. I got hit by a bicycle. Now, if it had been a car I'd have heard it coming iPod or no iPod, but bicycles do not make a sound so I didn't notice it coming. I will henceforth only jaywalk with my ipod paused so as to avoid the bicycle threat. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	napalmnacey 2007-02-08 09:06 am UTC (link)
	Ow. That had to hurt. :( (Reply to this)(Parent)

	dragonfangirl 2007-02-08 12:10 pm UTC (link)
	Bicycles do make noise, especially if they have bells on, but people often don't connect "bell sound" with "about to get my ass run flat." I speeks from experience. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	dark_puck 2007-02-08 05:59 pm UTC (link)
	Which is I took to shouting, "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" back when I still rode my bike. ...still didn't work. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	dark_puck 2007-02-08 06:00 pm UTC (link)
	*which is why I took Stupid brain. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	frequentmouse 2007-02-08 06:31 pm UTC (link)
	Not to say you do, but in my experience, bike riders usually yell exactly early enough that I have the person in front of them has stopped walking, tensed up, and just barely started to turn before they get hit. Bikes= faster than people think, faster than pedestrians move. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	dragonfangirl 2007-02-09 12:21 pm UTC (link)
	Perhaps, but in fairness to the bike riders, if they shouted from any further back they'd be too far away to be heard. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	aristaea 2007-02-10 08:34 am UTC (link)
	I always shout "passing on left [or right]" for pedestrians when I'm on a bike, because that way they know which way to move. Then, if they don't move fast enough, at least they're going in the opposite direction from my bike and it's easier to avoid crashing. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rosehiptea 2007-02-10 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, but then I'm too busy reciting the pledge of allegiance so I can remember which is my right side. (Seriously, I've never had a real problem with bikers while walking...) (Reply to this)(Parent)

karmakaze
2007-02-08 02:37 pm UTC (link)

Now, jaywalkers . . . I don't jaywalk as much as I did when I was a kid, and therefore I have no problem if they want to tack on an additional fine for jaywalking while zoned out with gadgets. That could be pretty dangerous.

Great Minds Think Alike! That was exactly my reaction - "Aren't there already laws about jaywalking?"

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	pyrrah 2007-02-08 08:46 pm UTC (link)
	I do the old lady pressing repeatedly on the walk button, before checking the road carefully, then crossing the street, sans ipod. I still got run over by a truck. I believe that careless pedesterian will remain careless, audio distractions or not, just as wheel happy drivers will continue to vroom vroom on their merry way, innocent pedestrians in sight or not. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	puipui 2007-02-08 09:19 pm UTC (link)
	You silly logic person. How dare you talk sense on the internets? Bah! (Reply to this)(Parent)

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