Pedestrian rants thread

[Dreamstalker]

OK, we have a driving rants thread, but how about what we as pedestrians hate?

Mine:
--people walking three abreast on a sidewalk that can barely handle two, and walking at a pace both fast and slow enough that you cannot pass them even if there was no traffic (so you could step into the street to do so). Coolidge Corner sidewalks are not Newbury St. sidewalks (the latter has fairly wide sidewalks).

--had this this morning. I was walking back from the post office, and stopped at a not-well-marked crosswalk(well, it's marked, but there's no light and nobody pays any attention to the barrel that's usually out) to check for cars. A lady who was following very closely behind me (why? we were the only two people crossing) almost knocked me into traffic when I stopped, and then gives me a very dirty look as she darts around me (only to get honked at by a car that almost hits her). I know it's a crosswalk, but people still tend to not stop. You can become a red smear from here to Washington Square if you want, but please do not take me with you.

--for some reason, the new trend among Asian kids here is to congregate on the corner right at the crosswalk, and not let people actually cross. If people are waiting to cross, they have to step into the street (which negates the point of the curb).

--I remember back in the day when cyclists/runners coming up behind you actually said "On your right/left!", so you were aware of them and could move accordingly. Nobody does that anymore, and I get the dirty glares when they have to swerve (um, I don't have eyes in the back of my head and sometimes with all the other city noise I don't hear you coming up on me).

[LostMyMind]

I can't stand people who are in so much of a hurry that slicing one sec of their trip is of major value.

[Dreamstalker]

Often people like that will blow past me only to get stuck behind the first obstacle I mentioned :D I tend to walk fast, but am rarely in an actual hurry so I don't care if I have to slow down. In #1 and #3 I'm referring to those who are obviously doing it just to be as annoying as possible. #3 can also be dangerous depending on what traffic is like.

[BusBus]

-In crowded walkways, people who decide to congregate in the middle and have a chat/talk on their cell/go through their purse/pick their nose. Move to the freakin' side!

-In crowded walkways, people stopping suddenly, causing you to run right into them (if you haven't had your morning java yet) or lurch forward in an effort to not run into them (if you've had your java).

[Banrion]

1) People who are on a sidewalk wide enough for 4 people, but manage to plant themself in the middle of it, and flail their arms so that they are blocking the entire sidewalk. (sidenote: I am convinced these people are trying to fly. The energy expended to their arms must out weigh the energy to their feet by at least 200%. These people are also unable to move more than 3 inches in a step)

2) People who think that between 7:00 & 7:30 am is a good time to go jogging in and around Boston's financial district which is currently under a state of construction and you are lucky if the sidewalks accomodate 1 person without having to weave back and forth to avoid obstacles.

3) People who push you out of the way to be the first off the train, then proceed to move slower than molasses in January, AND refuse to let you up the escalator.
corrollary to 3) People who think escalators are there to aid in their laziness. They stand in the middle of the stair, and refuse to let people up the left side.

4) When on a narrow sidewalk, People coming the opposite direction 3 wide who don't even have the sense to go single file for a few steps to allow traffic to flow in both directions.

5)People who enter and exit buildings without looking in either direction for people already on the thoroughfare. Then they stop dead in the middle of the sidewalk for some dumb reason.

I'm sure I have more, but it is Saturday and I haven't made my daily trek through Boston today. When going to and from work, I am ALWAYS in a hurry. If I miss my train I have to wait over an hour and a half for the next one. I am also tall with very long legs, hence very long strides. I get frustrated to no end when I have to waste my energy and take smaller steps because short and/or slow people don't realize that sidewalks are just like roads. Slow stay right, left is for oncoming traffic and passing.

[Dreamstalker]

I am also tall with very long legs, hence very long strides. I get frustrated to no end when I have to waste my energy and take smaller steps because short and/or slow people don't realize that sidewalks are just like roads. Slow stay right, left is for oncoming traffic and passing.
Ditto. I also hate when someone in front of me on the subway platform gets on and proceeds to block the damn doors. Green Line conductors are (most of the time) able to notice if there is someone trying to enter when they want to close the doors (the doors can be stopped/reopened if they encounter resistance).

Red Line trains IME do not do this. Once those doors start closing, they cannot be reversed and do not care if something gets caught in them. Anyone who still has one foot on the platform is going to get seriously hurt if not killed when that train takes off. It won't kill you to step into the train before you start yakking with a friend you just saw.

I will wait for the next train if I can tell I'm not going to be able to make it at a normal walking speed.

[Banrion]

Orange line trains work just like elevators. If there is something physically blocking the door, it will reopen. It's really annoying when kids have nothing better to do after school than ride around on the T. They will sit there with their backback blocking the door until one of the T people physically remove it and/or the kid.

[Seanette]

Bikes on the sidewalk. That is a) illegal, and b) hazardous to pedestrians.

Slowpokes in the middle of the sidewalk, especially when I'm trying to catch the train to get to work on time. Bonus points for clouds of tobacco smoke around said slowpoke (makes my sinuses hurt).

Badly placed/timed sprinkler systems that cause a choice between detouring onto the actual street (not wise where I live) or soaking.

Rude drivers who seem not to think pedestrians have any business crossing the street. Bonus points for having cell phone plastered to head.

[EmiOfBrie]

Well, bikes on the sidewalk aren't always illegal....for example in Hennepin County, MN, it's only illegal in business districts. *heh*

[COMINATCHA]

People who take their unruly mutt for a walk without a lead, and don't bat an eyelid when said mutt comes up and tries to sniff/lick/bark me to death. I'm not a dog person, please restrain your dogs so I can go for a walk in peace.

[Dreamstalker]

Orange line trains work just like elevators. If there is something physically blocking the door, it will reopen.
Most Red Line trains I've been on have signs "these doors do not recycle". I've only been on a scant few trains that have the sensor-things (dunno, maybe the brand-new trains have them and I haven't been on enough to notice).

Another annoyance:

At a T-intersection into a one-way street, WTF is it with nobody using turn signals to turn into the one-way? I will start to cross if I ascertain that you are traveling straight. Don't suddenly swing into the turn and scream at me when you have to slam on your brakes. You saw me starting to cross :mad:

[ditchdj]

What's a "turn signal"??? :lol:

[BunnyJas]

Pedestrians (or jaywalkers) that cross the busy six lane street in my town at night. These people also like to wear dark colored clothing, making it almost impossible to see them and most cars are going at least 45 mph! Now there's a stop light a bit ahead, but nooo! They can't be bothered to walk the extra few feet to make things easier for them and motorists. I'm just waiting to hear about one of these idiots getting hit.

The other one that gets on my nerves are cycleists that think they are exempt from traffic signs. Last I heard bicycles were classified as a vehicle. This means that you must obey stop signs like everyone else, especially at four-way stops. Don't get all pissy at me when I go and nearly hit you because you thought that the stop sign didn't apply to you since you weren't in a car.

[Crosshair]

Bikes on the sidewalk. That is a) illegal, and b) hazardous to pedestrians.
Not everywhere, here in ND, cyclist mainly ride on the sidewalk. If there is someone walking on the sidewalk, the cyclist usualy has to go around them since they have the right of way. There are not that many people on the sidewalk at one time to cause trouble. Ride on the street anywhere but a residential area and YOU are the one people are going to hate. Alway can tell who is from CA and places like that for school here. They are riding down the busy street and wondering why drivers are pissed at them.

General rule of thumb, if it has an engine, it goes on the street. Otherwise stay on the sidewalk whenever possible if you are not in a residential area or on a busy road.

Second rule, it is the cyclists job to watch for pedestrians and be sure they don't run into them. Some pedestrians may be stupid and/or on a cell phone. So be carefull.

Don't know if that is "the law", but it is the way things work around here and it works well.

[Sunsetsky]

* When people take up the sidewalk and completely ignore you when you say 'excuse me' half a dozen times. I say it a couple of times loud enough for them to hear me and if they don't move then I push through. I'm not walking out onto the road because you are too lazy to move out of my way.

* I hate it when I'm driving on a busy street and a pedestrian decides they don't want to go the extra 100 feet to a crosswalk and decide to jay walk. I usually end up having to hit the brakes and so do the other drivers.

* People who take their time walking in front of you and they somehow manage to take up the sidewalk so it's harder to pass.

[protege]

Pedestrians (or jaywalkers) that cross the busy six lane street in my town at night. These people also like to wear dark colored clothing, making it almost impossible to see them and most cars are going at least 45 mph! Now there's a stop light a bit ahead, but nooo!

I had two idiots dart out in front of me like that last night. Keep in mind that they were wearing all-black, on a dark street...and decided to cross in front of 55mph traffic. I saw the first guy go across the highway, but I wasn't too sure where the second was. He wisely decided to wait on the median strip until the 3 cars passed before he crossed.

[Dreamstalker]

I've seen cyclists that do the same...black (or some dark color) bike, wearing all black, no reflectors of any sort, no helmet, riding at night, that seem to dare cars to hit them.

[MadMike]

-In crowded walkways, people who decide to congregate in the middle and have a chat/talk on their cell/go through their purse/pick their nose. Move to the freakin' side!


Saw that a lot on the boardwalk, which is really fun when the thing's crowded and you have to squeeze past them. Other favorites I encountered there was the people who would walk up the left side of the boardwalk, while 99.9% of the other people walked on the right. Or the people who would step out in front of you (and I walk pretty fast), and then come to a dead stop. Or the people who stayed right on my tail, until I farted on 'em. :devil:

These people also like to wear dark colored clothing, making it almost impossible to see them and most cars are going at least 45 mph!

I almost hit someone like that a few years ago. It was a very dark-skinned black man, wearing dark clothing, crossing a blocktop road at night, and I didn't see him until I was almost right on top of him. The only thing I saw at first was the glow from his cigarette, which was probably the only reason I was able to stop on time. Ironically, the cigarette may have saved his life.

As far as people stepping right out in front of cars, I'm assuming they do it because technically, they have the right of way, and the driver has to stop. But it's not going to do them much good if the driver can't stop in time, or isn't paying attention.

[BusBus]

As far as people stepping right out in front of cars, I'm assuming they do it because technically, they have the right of way, and the driver has to stop. But it's not going to do them much good if the driver can't stop in time, or isn't paying attention.

Another pedestrian rant: people with the "I-have-the-right-of-way-and-if-someone-hits-me-I-will-sue-them" mentality that results in them crossing streets freely without common sense or courtesy. Buddy, your little notion there isn't gonna help ya much when you're killed jaywalking. Try suing someone if you're dead.

[Ryu]

heres the problem i have regarding that
i dont do any of that, i always cross at crosswalks or stop signs or what not but people almost always ignore them and i cant cross if theres a car within 200 ft(guessing, if i can see a car or even hear it its not safe to cross even on a 25 mph speed limit road) because of how many people speed and if i cross when cars have stop signs or red lights people honk and glare even though they couldnt go anyways

[One-Fang]

your little notion there isn't gonna help ya much when you're killed jaywalking. Try suing someone if you're dead.

He was right, alright
He was right all along
But he's no less dead
Than if he was wrong

[hecubus]

Being in a wheelchair, my major pedestrian pet-peeve is people who stand right in the middle of a curb-cut and look at me like I'm some sort of idiot when I ask them to move so I can get onto/off of the sidewalk.

Morons who walk with their back to traffic on narrow, dark streets wearing dark clothing.

Teenagers who walk down the middle of the street, and give you dirty looks when you actually have the gaul to expect them to movie out of the way of your car.

By the same token, teenagers who stand in the middle of the driveway and need an act of congress to move, almost as if they're daring you to hit them.

[MadMike]

Teenagers who walk down the middle of the street, and give you dirty looks when you actually have the gaul to expect them to movie out of the way of your car.


Had this in the parking garage at my job a few years ago. There were three people walking side by side in the middle of the lane, so there was no way I could just go around them. Since it was the end of the day, and there would be hundreds of vehicles leaving at the same time, that was really stupid.

I gave the horn a light tap, and they gave me dirty looks like I wasn't supposed to be there or something. Would they be happier if I had just run them over. Well, I might have been, but that's beside the point. :devil:

[Dips]

Had this in the parking garage at my job a few years ago. There were three people walking side by side in the middle of the lane, so there was no way I could just go around them.

That's happened to me so many times, I finally got sick of it. If you ignore them, they ignore you and stay in your way or they look at you and stay in your way. If you honk, they give you funny looks and stay in your way.

Since they're planning on staying in my way anyhow, there's no harm in making things a tad uncomfortable. I just creep up to about four feet behind their asses and shadow them. It's enough room that I can stop if I must and they can't hit my car. But it creeps them out and they start looking over their shoulders nervously and walking faster. In my head I'm humming the theme from Jaws. Dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun, DAAAAAAAH!

[MadMike]

In my head I'm humming the theme from Jaws. Dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun, DAAAAAAAH!

Hmm, maybe I should get that for my stereo, although people already tend to stay out of my way if I have Slayer blasting out of it. :D

[ditchdj]

I've heard of some people installing a double-air horn for hard-heads like that.

[Dreamstalker]

Apparently a new game among the packs of suburban teens that decide to "go slumming" on the Red Line is harassing seeing-eye dogs. I haven't seen a dog lash out at these twerps yet, and am mildly surprised at that. Maybe that's what they find so amusing about the whole thing.

[COMINATCHA]

I also hate it when I go for a run, and will be about to pass another runner who is going a little slowly. As I go to pass them, sometimes they actually speed up so I can't 'beat' them in this 'race' they've started, lol. It's annoying cause I don't like jogging next to some stranger who is struggling to keep me from getting past and 'winning' or something (I don't know what the deal is).

[ArenaBoy]

I also hate it when I go for a run, and will be about to pass another runner who is going a little slowly. As I go to pass them, sometimes they actually speed up so I can't 'beat' them in this 'race' they've started, lol. It's annoying cause I don't like jogging next to some stranger who is struggling to keep me from getting past and 'winning' or something (I don't know what the deal is).

I get that all the time, I'm flying down the road some idiot tries to outrun me only for said idiot to slow down more in the process.

[One-Fang]

Apparently a new game among the packs of suburban teens that decide to "go slumming" on the Red Line is harassing seeing-eye dogs. I haven't seen a dog lash out at these twerps yet, and am mildly surprised at that. Maybe that's what they find so amusing about the whole thing.

That's really disgusting. I'm sure the dogs haven't lashed out because they're trained very well to ignore the general public and a certain level of attention. That doesn't mean it's okay to do it. Grrrr. :no:

[protege]

I've heard of some people installing a double-air horn for hard-heads like that.

I've heard that a railroad-style three-chime (or better yet, a five-chime) air horn would do the trick. You'd need a huge air compressor though...but it would be worth it just to scare the crap out of them :D

[Dreamstalker]

I'm sure the dogs haven't lashed out because they're trained very well to ignore the general public and a certain level of attention. That doesn't mean it's okay to do it.
Exactly. You'd think by age 14 or so one would have enough sense to not need the "working dog" signs to know that you do not bother the animals. I recall saying something to the first gang I came across; that ended with the conductor coming back and tossing them out.
I also hate it when I go for a run, and will be about to pass another runner who is going a little slowly. As I go to pass them, sometimes they actually speed up
Same for walkers, actually (or cars). I've witnessed SUVs try to beat the trolley to the next crossing, and then have the cojones to swerve in front of the train to make the U-turn (hi, the train cannot stop on a dime).

[Sunsetsky]

I just remembered something that happened last Friday with my parents and I. It was around 10 at night and we were driving down a dark and uncommonly used road. Off in the distance we saw a guy standing smack center in the road. My dad stopped in front of him and waited for him to move. He just stood there and stared at us. He eventually moved and we quickly drove off. Then we remembered that there were two bikers on the road and debated if we should go back and warn them about the guy. However, by the time we would've gone back and found them, they would've already passed him. It was creepy though.

[MystyGlyttyr]

We get the shufflers who start across the street in the middle of nowhere and will actually LOOK at you while they do, like "I know you're there, why don't you go ahead and hit me?"

What these fellas don't anticipate is my mom being A) borderline insane, and B) as skilled as a stunt driver. She's taken the shorts off more than one slo-mo with her side-view mirror and sent them yelping for the sidewalk. WITH me in the car. While muttering "they're lucky I don't just hit them with the mirror."

I mean, it's quite a sight to behold...she can honestly just clip the edge of their clothes with the very edge of her mirror so she doesn't actually touch THEM, but they sure as hell think she will.

Turns out it's a little bit hereditary, too. I've got a nice purple sweater at home that I took off a skateboarder. :angel:

[Binky]

I had a doozy the other day! I was backing out of a parking spot 7 it was little difficult to get out of as both cars on the side of me were rather large (I think one was a 4wheel drive and the other a van of sorts). This meant that when I went to look behind me I couldn't really see if there was anyone walking past my car...so I checked, from what little I could see there was no one there. I start SLOWLY pulling out, looking, as I go being VERY careful!!! I of course (as you do) had to make sure that not only there was no one walking behind my moving car, but that I didn't scrape/bump into the parked cars on both sides of me, so when checking to see that my car wasn't going to collide with my car some smart cookie decides to walk behind my car that is not only MOVING, but REVERCING!!! It was quite OBVIOUSE that I was in a blind area and would find it difficult to see behind me, but this person just decided it would be OK for them to just stroll behind my car!

YAH GREAT IDEA MORON! I JUST saw him in time to slam the breaks on, and he had the hide to start yelling at me and flipped me the bird! I was shaken, & from what I could see everyone else was WAITING for me to finish reversing. GOSH this guy was a moron!