Pavement rage

[altariel]

I think it would be nice if I could make the two-minute walk to the local shop at rush hour without the risk of being run over by 1. cars on the pavement and 2. bikes on the pedestrian crossing. But what kind of crazy fantasy world would that be?

Comments

[hafren.livejournal.com]

My hate is bikes that sneak up behind me on pavements. I long to be an old lady with a hefty umbrella I can poke in their spokes.....

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

You and your silly fantasies!

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I think it would be nice too. But I am all about the crazy fantasies.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

It astonishes me how difficult it often is to cross the high street in our tiny iittle town...

[edge-of-ruin.livejournal.com]

One where you escape being crushed under falling rendering?

[raspberryfool.livejournal.com]

Worse than bicycle riders that sneak up behind you on the pavement are those idiots who ride without lights.

But it's the ones without riders you REALLY have to look out for. :-)

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

But what kind of crazy fantasy world would that be?

Certainly not this one, however crazy parts of it seem to be....

Plus, don't they know that someone walking to the corner is clearly in need of chocolate, and in no fit state at all to be run over?

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

If you learn to drive in America, you too can annihilate pedestrians ;)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

A girl has to dream.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

The sneaking up one infuriates me too.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Me and my crazy dreams!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

:-D Or headless riders.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Even more embittering, I wasn't even on a chocolate hunt.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

First I'll take Manhattan...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Let's hold them tight.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It's shocking. I walked to the library at rush hour the other night (20 minutes down a straight road), and almost got taken out by bikes five times. There's even a cycle path for most of it, but my bit of the pavement is clearly too inviting.

*grouses for Britain*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

:-D I think I'm the only one in the town who does obey the rules of the road. It's unfortunate that I'm softer-shelled than someone in a car!

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

That's really sad. If you're going to have to risk life and limb, there should at least be a sense of something important.

[six-old-cars.livejournal.com]

I obey the rules! Well, most of them....

[altariel.livejournal.com]

We obey! We obey!

[sherlock1.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to become a special constable. But I'd only do it if I could spend my whole time on duty fining people for cycling on the pavement. That would be joyous.

Due to the icy roads, I came off my bike this morning. Luckily I landed on my bum, so my fall was broken by some soft padding.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'd only do it if I could spend my whole time on duty fining people for cycling on the pavement.

God, that would be fabulous. Worth every penny of my council tax, knowing you were out there.

Sorry about your bike fall, ouch :-( Hope you haven't hurt anything.

No one takes Manhattan

[(Anonymous)]

Manhattan takes you.

Dwim

And this is why...

[(Anonymous)]

... nobody walks in L.A.

Dwim

Re: And this is why...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Also, you get stopped by police.

Re: No one takes Manhattan

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Crikey! OK, I'll skip straight to Berlin!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

PS and seriously: I think you would be a brilliant special constable.

Re: And this is why...

[(Anonymous)]

Funnily enough, the L.A. environs are the only place I've seen police stop a car for turning right on a red light when pedestrians were in the crosswalk, even though they had just stepped off the curb and were far from harm. Might've been a fluke; might've been a spotted owl situation (so rare, you have to protect it).

By comparison, in Chicago both pedestrians and drivers have a loose regard for life and limb in the streets, and frequently do stupid things trying to kill each other or themselves. As a summer cyclist, I take roads during the day and pray, and when it becomes dark, I get on the sidewalk and damn the possibility of a $200 fine! It's still cheaper than what insurance would charge me to scrape me off the pavement and put me back together again after a close encounter with a motorized vehicle.

Dwim

Re: No one takes Manhattan

[(Anonymous)]

*cackles like Dr. Strangelove*

Re: And this is why...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I suspect cyclists come onto the pavement here for much the same reason - they do seem to be used for target practice by many drivers. I do wish more of them would use lights, or reflecting gear, or even just slow down a bit when they're on the pavement though. Several times I've nearly jumped out of my skin (or into the road) as a result of having a bike come out of nowhere from behind me or, worse, had one nearly take me out as I've been crossing the road and then the pavement to get back to the house (bikes without lights coming along the pavement at speed while I'm crossing to the driveway). I think I'm just going to stop bothering trying to go places around here during the evening rush hour. After 6.30/7pm it's safe again.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

This does, of course, include the crazy fantasy of you careering down the pavement in a nuclear-powered chariot, with revolving blades on the wheels, as a sort of cross between Jadis and Boudicca, giving vent to a Cardassian war cry, scattering bicycles as you go.

Or is that just me?

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

I see nothing wrong in the situations you are describing that a full suit of plate armor wouldn't solve nicely. ;-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Me too now.

(Tho' as an interim measure, while the chariot is under construction, I like ithilwen's suggestion of a suit of armour.)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Damn, yes! That would be so cool! "Just off to the shop!" clank clank