[Vision2020] one injured in crossing

Thu Sep 25 21:57:34 PDT 2008

Debi,

I have no problem with bikers in general, but rather the ones that weave in and out at will. My experience with the palouse ground pounders, is that about 30 percent do not use hand signals, don't stop at stop signs, use both sidewalk and street, and hog the tiny streets. 

Again If you feel like use muscle instead of fossil fuels more power to ya. Please think of others while your doing it.

Take care
Matt

From: debismith at moscow.com
To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com; sslund_2007 at verizon.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one injured in crossing
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:36:13 -0800

Message

I sympathize with Matt on the pedestrians (Laws of physics 
be damned, kids. Just walk on out into the street, headphones on a telephone 
conversation  in progress...If you die from it, it won't be your fault, 
'cause pedestrians have the right of way. You'll be dead, but, hey, you had the 
right of way....), and on the bicyclers who can't decide if they are traffic or 
pedestrians. 

However, I must take fault with him on his note to 
bikers about "if you must congest streets".  For the most part, 
they ARE traffic, and with the current economic situation, those fortunate 
enough to be able to drive a car need to be aware of those with the foresight 
and fortitude to ride bicycles for transportation (sadly, I'm not one of 
them....) Bicylers should obey traffic laws. They aren't traffic hazzards 
unless they are too inexperienced to ride bikes in town. That's not the 
case for 90% of the Palouse bikers!
Debi R-S

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: 
  Matt 
  Decker 
  To: Saundra Lund ; vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 7:55 
  PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one injured in 
  crossing

Yes thank you. We can spend thousands if not millions for a 
  crosswalk and stoplight at every intersection, but it will not solve idiots 
  crossing whenever they wish. I am sick and tired of pedestrians and bikers 
  doing as they please, then blaming the driver who just hit them, when they 
  were at fault.

Two years ago I hit an idiot who thought he could 
  wear headphones and not use a crosswalk. This smuck decides that he can cross 
  without even looking and what do you know, I smack him with my passenger side 
  mirror. After I stop and he gathers what just happened, I jump out, throw my 
  hands in the air(like WTF are you doing), he just walks off like it was a 
  daily event. No respect to others or himself.

No doubt, drivers need to 
  keep their eyes open at all times. We all could slow down and stop for the 
  person trying to cross the street. On the flip note, If I am a pedestrian, I 
  will make darn sure the street is clear before I cross it. The old rule of 
  thumb, look twice then cross, pops into mind.

Bikers!!!!! QUIT moving 
  from sidewalk to street then back to sidewalk. If you feel you must congest 
  the streets, then follow the rules. Use hand signals, don't weave, and 
  understand drivers don't know what your next move is. 

Adding stop 
  lights and crosswalks won't solve it. Prevention will. Teach our youth to 
  respect cars. Cars own the road not bikers and pedestrians. Learn it, live it, 
  teach it.

matt

  Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:48:22 -0700
From: sslund_2007 at verizon.net
To: 
  vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] one injured in 
  crossing

  That 
  crossing is definitely a problem, but I’m not sure a pedestrian bridge would 
  resolve the problem of MORONIC students crossing the highway.  I don’t 
  mean to be contrary, but . . . 

  Yesterday 
  afternoon, I was on the highway headed east.  There were students in the 
  crosswalk . . . yet during the time I was stopped, three separate IDIOTS 
  crossed from campus further east of the crosswalk.  The first almost got 
  hit by cars heading west, presumably because the drivers were focused 
  on/distracted by activation of the crosswalk flashing lights and didn’t expect 
  to see a pedestrian strolling across the highway a fair distance before 
  the crosswalk.

  I see that 
  kind of thing – students being too lazy to cross safely -- happen regularly, 
  and I think the miracle is that we’ve not seen more tragedy.

  OTOH, a 
  expensive pedestrian bridge would provide a safe crossing for those 
  with the BRAINS to use it.

  I don’t 
  know what a good solution would be, but perhaps having some concentrated 
  pedestrian enforcement at strategic times would help?  Perhaps if word 
  got out among the students that not crossing safely was going to cut into 
  their beer budgets, it would make that stretch of highway safer for all of 
  us?  Has that approach been tried?

  Saundra 
  Lund
  Moscow, 
  ID

  The 
  only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do 
  nothing.
  ~ 
  Edmund Burke

  ***** 
  Original material contained herein is Copyright 2008 through life plus 70 
  years, Saundra Lund.  Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside 
  the Vision 2020 forum without the express written permission of the 
  author.*****

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