What is the appropriate action when you unintentionally block a crosswalk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the real world unless it’s prohibited by a sign drivers behind you will be honking for you to make the right. You have to pull up to get a good view.

So when someone behind you us impatient and honks at you (creating noise pollution) that is ok and you move forward but as soon as a biker taps your car because it is parked in the middle of the tiny sliver that pedestrians have to cross, that person is a douche? Here’s an idea- ignore the douchy drivers who think it’s a right to turn right on red the second they want to and stay behind the crosswalk so you don’t block pedestrians.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to block a crosswalk, ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cyclist should not be riding on the sidewalk, or in the crosswalk. He’s an ass.

mmm, right. It's his fault she was blocking the intersection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the real world unless it’s prohibited by a sign drivers behind you will be honking for you to make the right. You have to pull up to get a good view.

So when someone behind you us impatient and honks at you (creating noise pollution) that is ok and you move forward but as soon as a biker taps your car because it is parked in the middle of the tiny sliver that pedestrians have to cross, that person is a douche? Here’s an idea- ignore the douchy drivers who think it’s a right to turn right on red the second they want to and stay behind the crosswalk so you don’t block pedestrians.

A cyclist is not a pedestrian.

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid I got hit in a crosswalk because a car was blocking the crosswalk. I stepped out from behind the parked (on crosswalk) car and right into the path of a car that had turned left.

[Anonymous]

When there is room to back up, that is the right thing to do. When there is not because of cars behind you, obviously you can only remain there.

I am a driver, a pedestrian and a cyclist. (yes cyclists are allowed to ride the sidewalk in almost every part of this region, and often that is the safest place for them to be) I would not strike a car when someone has no room to back up, since there is nothing they can do at that point. I might give them a glare, or a shrug, but nothing more (note I am NOT suggesting striking cars that DO have room to back up, merely noting the situation is different).

More importantly this shows one of the problems with right turn on red - it tends to encourage cross walk blocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cyclist should not be riding on the sidewalk, or in the crosswalk. He’s an ass.

How would you ride across this? (Note to ride one of Arlington's most popular trails you need to cross this)


https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8436538,-77.0856714,3a,75y,188.46h,70.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szNiD1hsAntnf1IhhPUnmEQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This happened to me the other--could not see to make a right on red and needed to pull far up to see to turn safely. There were no pedestrians or cyclists anywhere in view. I had to sit a bit to make the turn safely and while I am waiting a bike shows up. I could not back up as cars were behind. Cyclist hits the trunk of my car as he goes around (he had been riding on the sidewalk). He's a douche right?

Why is he a douche? Because he called you out on the fact that you are a selfish driver? If you could not safely make a right on red without blocking the crosswalk then wait for the light to turn green and make a right then.

It is impossible to “unintentionally” block the crosswalk. If you cannot clear the crosswalk then wait until you can. It is dangerous for pedestrians to have to go around you into the street.

+1

You were in the wrong. You deliberately and knowingly blocked the crosswalk, you knew you were blocking the crosswalk, and you just think that your actions were justified and the cyclist should have known that you were justified. But the rules apply to you the same as they do to anyone else. And the effect of your actions is the same: The cyclist (or any pedestrian who might have come along) ad the choice to try to squeeze between you and the car behind you, or venture out in the cross lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cyclist should not be riding on the sidewalk, or in the crosswalk. He’s an ass.

How would you ride across this? (Note to ride one of Arlington's most popular trails you need to cross this)


https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8436538,-77.0856714,3a,75y,188.46h,70.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szNiD1hsAntnf1IhhPUnmEQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The proper way is to dismount and walk you bike across the crosswalk. Otherwise, you are a vehicle in the crosswalk.

"Walk your bike on pedestrian crosswalks and overpasses. This gives you the right-of-way as a pedestrian. If you ride your bike across crosswalks and overpasses, you may not have the legal right-of-way."

https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/bicycle-safety/on-the-road/#.XK4vQGN7lEY

[Anonymous]

You are the douche. Don't block the crosswalk.

[Anonymous]

If you are an Uber drive you have the right to block the crosswalk. Also make slow u turns to black all traffic on a busy street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cyclist should not be riding on the sidewalk, or in the crosswalk. He’s an ass.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cyclist should not be riding on the sidewalk, or in the crosswalk. He’s an ass.

How would you ride across this? (Note to ride one of Arlington's most popular trails you need to cross this)


https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8436538,-77.0856714,3a,75y,188.46h,70.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szNiD1hsAntnf1IhhPUnmEQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The proper way is to dismount and walk you bike across the crosswalk. Otherwise, you are a vehicle in the crosswalk.

"Walk your bike on pedestrian crosswalks and overpasses. This gives you the right-of-way as a pedestrian. If you ride your bike across crosswalks and overpasses, you may not have the legal right-of-way."

https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/bicycle-safety/on-the-road/#.XK4vQGN7lEY

That is not the law in Virginia and despite it being a crossing heavily used by cyclists, on Arlington's famed "Arlington Loop", there is no signage suggesting cyclists dismount. Triple AAA's opinion does not set the law.

I would also add, its quite as unsafe there for pedestrians or dismounted cyclists when someone is blocking the crosswalk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to block a crosswalk, ever.

+1 And if no one is behind you, back up and stop blocking the crosswalk. I gave a Bethesda minivan driver the evil eye as she blocked the crosswalk, and she didn't even back up.

[Anonymous]

Biker was a douche for hitting your car, you're a douche for acting completely innocent in this ordeal.