Unfriendliness and Hostility towards Pedestrians

[Greenday]

I'll just put it this way. Legally, pedestrians have the right of way. If I'm going to have time to stop, I'll stop so someone can cross. I live on a college campus, I know what it's like to try to cross streets.

But physically, I'm driving a vehicle that weighs over 3000+ pounds, plus me, plus whatever else is in my car. I have a great deal of momentum. You somewhere most likely between 100-200 pounds, walking much slower than my car is moving, have a great deal less momentum. Assuming it's an elastic collision, my car will kick the crap out of someone dumb enough to try to run across the street in front of my car.

Physics is fun to think about!

[bigpedaler]

I feel for anybody who for whatever reason can't rely on vehicular transport (of any kind) and has to walk/bike anywhere. Because let's face it, even if a pedestrian/bicyclist is acting irresponsibly in terms of crossing or suddenly darting out into traffic, they have NO chance against a roughly-2 1/2 ton package of metal boring down on them. So why not give them a little leeway?

Appreciate the consideration you express here -- just a nitpick:

Bicycles ARE vehicular transport -- just not MOTORIZED!

(Speaking as a car-free-for-four-years, avid/passionate cyclist!)

[jedimaster91]

Responsible pedestrians/cyclists, I have no problems with. It's the ones who refuse to follow the rules of the road (yes, mister cyclist, you DO have to stop for that red light....) that really make me angry. I've lost count of the number of people I've almost hit when they darted out into traffic.

I've been on the other side too, as my college campus is located in the Downtown area. I hate drivers that think they have to run me over. And the honking at me because I'm a young female is really going to set me off one day.