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TreeFrog

Beach Fanatic
Oct 11, 2005
1,793
214
Seagrove
Yesterday afternoon, I was driving east on 30A, just east of 395. I was comfortably under the posted 35 MPH limit and there was a lot of vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic. After all, it is July. And I was being watchful.

When I approached one of the pedestrian crosswalks, a man (with kids in tow) on a bicycle made a move to pull out in front of me, then pointed angily at me when I didn't stop for him.

Here's the catch - he arrived at the crosswalk AFTER I had had reached the "point of no return". If had tried to brake for him, I would have either hit him or slid to a screaming halt and probably been rear-ended.

With that kind of attitude, I'd bet his family is "enjoying" their week at the beach with Dad. :dunno:
 

Kurt

Admin
Oct 15, 2004
2,304
5,011
SoWal
mooncreek.com
He was likely hot, tired, and hungry. Then again, there are some people who should probably not be dads.

That reminds me of zebra crossings in London. I was amazed watching people never break stride, and without even looking, walk out in front of cars zooming along. I would never be able to do that but apparently the drivers are so conditioned that they brake hard and stop every time, presumably.

Now that I think about it, I have become aware of crossings on 30A and "look ahead" for possible foot traffic, especially in Summer. I've seen lots of kids darting out into the street.
 

NoHall

hmmmm......can't remember
May 28, 2007
9,032
996
Northern Hall County, GA
I never saw anyone brake for a pedestrian in Great Britain. I was there with a bunch of kids a couple of years ago, and had the double-armed soccer-mom thing going on.

Our kids would get to the edge of the curb, look left-right-left and start to step off, forgetting that cars were coming from the right. By the time they had looked left, one of those tiny cars was screeching around the corner from the right. Pedestrians don't have the right of way at intersections there, either.

By the end of the trip they were yelling at each other in my voice to not go until they saw the green man (on the pedestrian lights.)

In defense of the tired, hot, hungry, angry, hostile dad, I was working at a camp on a college campus last week. On the main street, there are at least 3 clearly marked pedestrian crossings, two with those plastic "stop for pedestrian" signs mounted in the centerline. It's infuriating to watch how many people go through those crossings over the speed limit on cell phones, not watching. (And I'm not saying you were doing any of these things, TF.) It's tempting to be a vigilante pedestrian--to step out and make them slam on the brakes.
 

NoHall

hmmmm......can't remember
May 28, 2007
9,032
996
Northern Hall County, GA
That's what I was afraid this guy was going to do. I was too close to stop.

Final score if he had:
Car 1
Bike 0

It's like I tell the kids: You have the right of way. If he runs over you, you'll be dead, but he'll be at fault...

They usually get it.:bicycle:
 

Camp Creek Kid

Christini Zambini
Feb 20, 2005
1,277
125
53
Seacrest Beach
This brings up a pet peeve of mine. When at the crosswalks at Rosemary Beach, pedestrians are required by law to follow the traffic signals. I have witnessed countless times when pedestrians walked onto the crosswalk when the oncoming traffic had a GREEN light. I have no problem with people crossing when there are no cars, but pedestrians DO NOT have the right-of-way when there is a traffic signal. I also have issues with drivers who stop at those same crosswalks and let people cross on a green light because the cars behind are not expecting to stop. It is very dangerous!
 
That's the crosswalk where my sister and I BEAT ON HOODS of vehicles that don't stop for pedestrians.

Another place I'm surprised that no one has been killed at is the bike path crossover at the intersection of Highway 30-A and Eastern Lake Road. It is 100% impossible to tell if someone is continuing east on 30-A or going down Eastern Lake Road because no one ever signals at that fork in the road. Yet a developer wants to build a high-density development at that intersection. :yikes: IF THAT HAPPENS, THE PROBABILITY IS 100% THAT SOMEONE WILL DIE AT THAT INTERSECTION. It's already treacherous.
 

NotnKansas

Beach Lover
Aug 3, 2006
207
2
SOWAL, FL
When I lived in Holland - cars stopped for you. If you waited to cross the road (at a crosswalk) cars would honk at you for throwing them off. It got to the point where we didn't even have to look up. What a great country. :D
 
When I lived in Holland - cars stopped for you. If you waited to cross the road (at a crosswalk) cars would honk at you for throwing them off. It got to the point where we didn't even have to look up. What a great country. :D
Imagine that happening here ... not! My husband and I make a point of stopping for every pedestrian on 30-A, regardless of whether or not a crosswalk exists there.
 

avalon

Beach Fanatic
Apr 21, 2008
451
122
Seagrove
I can tell you from daily experience in the summer, most cars do not stop for pedestrians in Seaside/ Watercolor anymore. It is a little better right in the center of town, but on the edges LOOK OUT. Drivers don't even slow down. I tell kids everyday to "wait till both lanes stop". The worst is when one lane is polite and the people step out only to have the opposite way zoom on through and scare the crap out of the peds.
 
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