Pedestrian crosswalks

[TreeFrog]

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. :idontno:

[kurt]

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]

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.

[TreeFrog]

It's tempting to be a vigilante pedestrian--to step out and make them slam on the brakes.

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

[NoHall]

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]

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!

[Beach Runner]

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]

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

[Beach Runner]

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.

[Amy@Avalon]

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.

[InletBchDweller]

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!

Oh, CCK, that is a big pet peeve of mine as well. Around 3:30 when subs are getting off work there is quite a line of traffic. Everything is rolling along nice until a person, with Starbucks in tow, decides that the world should stop just for them. Then traffic gets all funked up until the next green light...

I dont mind stopping at a crosswalk for a pedestrian but a green traffic light is just that. GREEN Where is Barney Fife when you need him??...:lol:

[seagrovegirl]

Someone correct me if I am wrong. Pedestrians do not have the right of way on 30A. There are crosswalks, to walk on if traffic is clear....and I do not mean the area with traffic signals.

If I am driving on 30A in Seaside and someone walks out in front of my car, am I to blame??? Granted, I do stop for pedestrians and watch for them and I am courteous, but it is not the law.

Getting screamed at, or flipped off by an irate pedestrian because I did not stop at a crosswalk, usually because it is too late to, really ticks me off. But I have learned to laugh at them, instead of being crude with the finger. I have found, the laughing part is unexpected and it really throws them off.

[JustaLocal]

Someone correct me if I am wrong. Pedestrians do not have the right of way on 30A. There are crosswalks, to walk on if traffic is clear....and I do not mean the area with traffic signals.

If I am driving on 30A in Seaside and someone walks out in front of my car, am I to blame??? Granted, I do stop for pedestrians and watch for them and I am courteous, but it is not the law.

Getting screamed at, or flipped off by an irate pedestrian because I did not stop at a crosswalk, usually because it is too late to, really ticks me off. But I have learned to laugh at them, instead of being crude with the finger. I have found, the laughing part is unexpected and it really throws them off.

I looked it up for you - pedestrians have the right-of-way:

316.130 Pedestrian obedience to traffic control devices and traffic regulations.--

7) When traffic control signals are not in place or in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0316/SEC130.HTM&Title=->2007->Ch0316->Section%20130#0316.130

[tistheseason]

I don't know about Florida. But in GA it's state law to stop for pedestrians at CROSSWALKS. If they aren't at a crosswalk, than they are J-walking and they would be at fault. But either way -- if you hit them, yes they might die, but you have to live with that knowledge the rest of your life!

[JustaLocal]

I don't know about Florida. But in GA it's state law to stop for pedestrians at CROSSWALKS. If they aren't at a crosswalk, than they are J-walking and they would be at fault. But either way -- if you hit them, yes they might die, but you have to live with that knowledge the rest of your life!

Further in the statute it says:

(10) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

There is a really funny one too:

(8) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

Imagine the chaos if they didn't include that statute!! :lol:

[seagrovegirl]

Further in the statute it says:

(10) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

There is a really funny one too:

(8) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

Imagine the chaos if they didn't include that statute!! :lol:

Georgia Statute??? These are relating to non-crosswalks..........

[JustaLocal]

Georgia Statute??? These are relating to non-crosswalks..........

Sorry. :blush:

I wasn't referring to GA. I was talking about my earlier post (#13) - the Florida Statute:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0316/SEC130.HTM&Title=->2007->Ch0316->Section%20130#0316.130

So, don't suddenly leave a place of safety and run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield!! :floor:

[sowalgayboi]

It's not that it isn't annoying or illegal, it's just the paperwork when you run someone over. Remember that when your running late and someone tries to cross in front of you. I believe that the speed limits in place in Seaside, WaterColor, Rosemary, Alys Beach, and Gulf Place are all low enough (25mph) that you should be able to literally stop on a dime.

[tistheseason]

Getting screamed at, or flipped off by an irate pedestrian because I did not stop at a crosswalk, usually because it is too late to, really ticks me off. But I have learned to laugh at them, instead of being crude with the finger. I have found, the laughing part is unexpected and it really throws them off.

:blink: I have to admit. . . if a driver that didn't stop for me in a crosswalk started laughing. . . . yep, that would throw me off. But come on, can't you just stop instead?

[seagrovegirl]

:blink: I have to admit. . . if a driver that didn't stop for me in a crosswalk started laughing. . . . yep, that would throw me off. But come on, can't you just stop instead?

I DO...all the time!!!! But if you can't stop in time.............you need to read the whole thread.