If you enter the intersection while a pedestrian is crossing, where'd you learn to drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your time to cross, typically coincides with the car's time to turn. I work in the Farragut West area, if drivers waited for the cross walk to be completely free to turn, MAYBE one car could go with every light change. Traffic would be even worse than it is now.

And for those who intentionally slow down, what is wrong with you? As long as the car isn't doing something illegal (like running a red light) quickly cross so everyone can get where they are going.

These are types of pedestrians who seem to want "But I had the right of way" printed on their tombstones.

Creeping your car up on someone is threatening. If it’s too crowded with people then don’t drive your car there.

DP. I normally give pedestrians really wide birth, I always stop at mid-block crosswalks when people are waiting to cross, etc. My only exception is when I’m trying to make a right turn on green during rush hour downtown. I still keep a safe distance, but will creep forward into the crosswalk as I can in order to make the turn as soon as possible. It’s really not about trying to hurry pedestrians, it’s about traffic being so wretched that drivers doing that to help more cars through the light can mean the difference between a five minute wait to make a turn and a 20 minute wait. That’s meaningful when the person three cars behind you is trying to make a daycare pick-up deadline.

We can all stand to be a little kinder and more understanding toward each other.

It's only a problem when that inching into the crosswalk is not giving people a wide berth. Then you need to plan to leave earlier to make daycare pickup while driving in a crowded city. Take traffic as a fact of life and plan accordingly.

When pedestrians follow the law about only entering the crosswalk when the walk signal is on and stop entering the intersection once the don't walk signal is flashing, then I’ll worry about your “wide berth.” Traffic wouldn’t be nearly as bad if pedestrians followed the law too.

I don't know about Virginia but that is not the law in DC or Maryland.

And there are virtually no drivers in this area who are occupying any moral high ground when it comes to following the rules of the road - almost every driver I see is violating multiple laws almost continuously - it is not uncommon on my walks at almost every intersection to see a driver making an illegal right on red without stopping or using their turn signal while holding an active phone in their hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your time to cross, typically coincides with the car's time to turn. I work in the Farragut West area, if drivers waited for the cross walk to be completely free to turn, MAYBE one car could go with every light change. Traffic would be even worse than it is now.

And for those who intentionally slow down, what is wrong with you? As long as the car isn't doing something illegal (like running a red light) quickly cross so everyone can get where they are going.

These are types of pedestrians who seem to want "But I had the right of way" printed on their tombstones.

Creeping your car up on someone is threatening. If it’s too crowded with people then don’t drive your car there.

DP. I normally give pedestrians really wide birth, I always stop at mid-block crosswalks when people are waiting to cross, etc. My only exception is when I’m trying to make a right turn on green during rush hour downtown. I still keep a safe distance, but will creep forward into the crosswalk as I can in order to make the turn as soon as possible. It’s really not about trying to hurry pedestrians, it’s about traffic being so wretched that drivers doing that to help more cars through the light can mean the difference between a five minute wait to make a turn and a 20 minute wait. That’s meaningful when the person three cars behind you is trying to make a daycare pick-up deadline.

We can all stand to be a little kinder and more understanding toward each other.

It's only a problem when that inching into the crosswalk is not giving people a wide berth. Then you need to plan to leave earlier to make daycare pickup while driving in a crowded city. Take traffic as a fact of life and plan accordingly.

When pedestrians follow the law about only entering the crosswalk when the walk signal is on and stop entering the intersection once the don't walk signal is flashing, then I’ll worry about your “wide berth.” Traffic wouldn’t be nearly as bad if pedestrians followed the law too.

I don't know about Virginia but that is not the law in DC or Maryland.

And there are virtually no drivers in this area who are occupying any moral high ground when it comes to following the rules of the road - almost every driver I see is violating multiple laws almost continuously - it is not uncommon on my walks at almost every intersection to see a driver making an illegal right on red without stopping or using their turn signal while holding an active phone in their hand.

DP. The DC government actually does say pedestrians cannot enter a crosswalk when the Don’t Walk light is flashing. “No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of a “DON’T WALK” or “WAIT” signal.” https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/bike_ped_traffic_reg_summary.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your time to cross, typically coincides with the car's time to turn. I work in the Farragut West area, if drivers waited for the cross walk to be completely free to turn, MAYBE one car could go with every light change. Traffic would be even worse than it is now.

And for those who intentionally slow down, what is wrong with you? As long as the car isn't doing something illegal (like running a red light) quickly cross so everyone can get where they are going.

These are types of pedestrians who seem to want "But I had the right of way" printed on their tombstones.

Creeping your car up on someone is threatening. If it’s too crowded with people then don’t drive your car there.

DP. I normally give pedestrians really wide birth, I always stop at mid-block crosswalks when people are waiting to cross, etc. My only exception is when I’m trying to make a right turn on green during rush hour downtown. I still keep a safe distance, but will creep forward into the crosswalk as I can in order to make the turn as soon as possible. It’s really not about trying to hurry pedestrians, it’s about traffic being so wretched that drivers doing that to help more cars through the light can mean the difference between a five minute wait to make a turn and a 20 minute wait. That’s meaningful when the person three cars behind you is trying to make a daycare pick-up deadline.

We can all stand to be a little kinder and more understanding toward each other.

It's only a problem when that inching into the crosswalk is not giving people a wide berth. Then you need to plan to leave earlier to make daycare pickup while driving in a crowded city. Take traffic as a fact of life and plan accordingly.

When pedestrians follow the law about only entering the crosswalk when the walk signal is on and stop entering the intersection once the don't walk signal is flashing, then I’ll worry about your “wide berth.” Traffic wouldn’t be nearly as bad if pedestrians followed the law too.

I don't know about Virginia but that is not the law in DC or Maryland.

And there are virtually no drivers in this area who are occupying any moral high ground when it comes to following the rules of the road - almost every driver I see is violating multiple laws almost continuously - it is not uncommon on my walks at almost every intersection to see a driver making an illegal right on red without stopping or using their turn signal while holding an active phone in their hand.

DP. The DC government actually does say pedestrians cannot enter a crosswalk when the Don’t Walk light is flashing. “No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of a “DON’T WALK” or “WAIT” signal.” https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/bike_ped_traffic_reg_summary.pdf

That is a summary explanation.

The actual law says that pedestrians cannot enter on a solid don't walk signal and has no language prohibiting entry on a flashing signal. If it were the case then the signals wouldn't have 3 phases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your time to cross, typically coincides with the car's time to turn. I work in the Farragut West area, if drivers waited for the cross walk to be completely free to turn, MAYBE one car could go with every light change. Traffic would be even worse than it is now.

And for those who intentionally slow down, what is wrong with you? As long as the car isn't doing something illegal (like running a red light) quickly cross so everyone can get where they are going.

These are types of pedestrians who seem to want "But I had the right of way" printed on their tombstones.

Creeping your car up on someone is threatening. If it’s too crowded with people then don’t drive your car there.

DP. I normally give pedestrians really wide birth, I always stop at mid-block crosswalks when people are waiting to cross, etc. My only exception is when I’m trying to make a right turn on green during rush hour downtown. I still keep a safe distance, but will creep forward into the crosswalk as I can in order to make the turn as soon as possible. It’s really not about trying to hurry pedestrians, it’s about traffic being so wretched that drivers doing that to help more cars through the light can mean the difference between a five minute wait to make a turn and a 20 minute wait. That’s meaningful when the person three cars behind you is trying to make a daycare pick-up deadline.

We can all stand to be a little kinder and more understanding toward each other.

It's only a problem when that inching into the crosswalk is not giving people a wide berth. Then you need to plan to leave earlier to make daycare pickup while driving in a crowded city. Take traffic as a fact of life and plan accordingly.

When pedestrians follow the law about only entering the crosswalk when the walk signal is on and stop entering the intersection once the don't walk signal is flashing, then I’ll worry about your “wide berth.” Traffic wouldn’t be nearly as bad if pedestrians followed the law too.

I don't know about Virginia but that is not the law in DC or Maryland.

And there are virtually no drivers in this area who are occupying any moral high ground when it comes to following the rules of the road - almost every driver I see is violating multiple laws almost continuously - it is not uncommon on my walks at almost every intersection to see a driver making an illegal right on red without stopping or using their turn signal while holding an active phone in their hand.

DP. The DC government actually does say pedestrians cannot enter a crosswalk when the Don’t Walk light is flashing. “No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of a “DON’T WALK” or “WAIT” signal.” https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/bike_ped_traffic_reg_summary.pdf

That is a summary explanation.

The actual law says that pedestrians cannot enter on a solid don't walk signal and has no language prohibiting entry on a flashing signal. If it were the case then the signals wouldn't have 3 phases.

No, you’re completely wrong. It says pedestrians may enter the crosswalk to the “walk” phase but not during the “do not walk” or “wait” phases. See reg 18-2302. Per the MUTCD (which DC has adopted), the flashing upraised hand (symbolizing “Don’t Walk”) means someone who already entered the intersection on the “Walk” may proceed to the far side, but no pedestrians may enter when the hand is flashing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your time to cross, typically coincides with the car's time to turn. I work in the Farragut West area, if drivers waited for the cross walk to be completely free to turn, MAYBE one car could go with every light change. Traffic would be even worse than it is now.

And for those who intentionally slow down, what is wrong with you? As long as the car isn't doing something illegal (like running a red light) quickly cross so everyone can get where they are going.

These are types of pedestrians who seem to want "But I had the right of way" printed on their tombstones.

Creeping your car up on someone is threatening. If it’s too crowded with people then don’t drive your car there.

That is the way the street work, cars are allowed to enter the intersection ... you need to move quickly so you don't obstruct the flow of traffic.

Sorry you are wrong on this one.

Pedestrians have zero obligation to 1) walk faster while in the crosswalk or 2) worry about obstructing traffic. If a pedestrian is in a crosswalk you stop and wait. You don’t creep your car forward, you don’t honk, you don’t zoom around. There is traffic because of drivers not because of pedestrians. You don’t like it, get out of your car and walk or take the bus. Pedestrians have to stop at every single intersection because of cars, if you are in a car then YOU are the one impeding pedestrian traffic so please get out of the way.

Where is the regulation establishing this? I see pedestrians keep walking at the same speed -- no stop for them!-- or even speed up when entering a pedestrian crosswalk all the time. Not everyone, but it's frequent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't know about Virginia but that is not the law in DC or Maryland.

And there are virtually no drivers in this area who are occupying any moral high ground when it comes to following the rules of the road - almost every driver I see is violating multiple laws almost continuously - it is not uncommon on my walks at almost every intersection to see a driver making an illegal right on red without stopping or using their turn signal while holding an active phone in their hand.

DP. The DC government actually does say pedestrians cannot enter a crosswalk when the Don’t Walk light is flashing. “No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of a “DON’T WALK” or “WAIT” signal.” https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/bike_ped_traffic_reg_summary.pdf

That is a summary explanation.

The actual law says that pedestrians cannot enter on a solid don't walk signal and has no language prohibiting entry on a flashing signal. If it were the case then the signals wouldn't have 3 phases.

No, you’re completely wrong. It says pedestrians may enter the crosswalk to the “walk” phase but not during the “do not walk” or “wait” phases. See reg 18-2302. Per the MUTCD (which DC has adopted), the flashing upraised hand (symbolizing “Don’t Walk”) means someone who already entered the intersection on the “Walk” may proceed to the far side, but no pedestrians may enter when the hand is flashing.

DDP. This is correct.

[Anonymous]

I’m seeing a lot of drivers on this thread making up laws then threatening to run over pedestrians and bicyclists when they break those non-laws.

Lots of drivers licenses that should be taken away from people who don’t know the rules of the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing a lot of drivers on this thread making up laws then threatening to run over pedestrians and bicyclists when they break those non-laws.

Lots of drivers licenses that should be taken away from people who don’t know the rules of the road.

I’d take you more seriously if you actually cited those posts to substantiate your claim instead of making broad unsupported claims.

[Anonymous]

You do know that you can state a claim is incorrect, and even cite the source for your counterstatement, without that meaning you want to run over pedestrians, are threatening the safety of small children, or plan to blow up the world, right?

That people can disagree with you -- and even be right -- without being evil?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing a lot of drivers on this thread making up laws then threatening to run over pedestrians and bicyclists when they break those non-laws.

Lots of drivers licenses that should be taken away from people who don’t know the rules of the road.

I’d take you more seriously if you actually cited those posts to substantiate your claim instead of making broad unsupported claims.

It's literally in this topic or thread whatever it's called. People saying that riding a bike is or walking at whatever pace you feel like through a crosswalk is illegal because it's"obstructing the flow of traffic". People claiming that you can't enter the crosswalk on a flashing red hand.

Turn in your drivers license people. You probably shouldn't even ride a bike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m seeing a lot of drivers on this thread making up laws then threatening to run over pedestrians and bicyclists when they break those non-laws.

Lots of drivers licenses that should be taken away from people who don’t know the rules of the road.

I’d take you more seriously if you actually cited those posts to substantiate your claim instead of making broad unsupported claims.

It's literally in this topic or thread whatever it's called. People saying that riding a bike is or walking at whatever pace you feel like through a crosswalk is illegal because it's"obstructing the flow of traffic". People claiming that you can't enter the crosswalk on a flashing red hand.

Turn in your drivers license people. You probably shouldn't even ride a bike.

This is in the DC code, the provisions were cited above. Your willful refusal to educate yourself doesn’t make you right, it just makes you deluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your time to cross, typically coincides with the car's time to turn. I work in the Farragut West area, if drivers waited for the cross walk to be completely free to turn, MAYBE one car could go with every light change. Traffic would be even worse than it is now.

And for those who intentionally slow down, what is wrong with you? As long as the car isn't doing something illegal (like running a red light) quickly cross so everyone can get where they are going.

These are types of pedestrians who seem to want "But I had the right of way" printed on their tombstones.

Creeping your car up on someone is threatening. If it’s too crowded with people then don’t drive your car there.

DP. I normally give pedestrians really wide birth, I always stop at mid-block crosswalks when people are waiting to cross, etc. My only exception is when I’m trying to make a right turn on green during rush hour downtown. I still keep a safe distance, but will creep forward into the crosswalk as I can in order to make the turn as soon as possible. It’s really not about trying to hurry pedestrians, it’s about traffic being so wretched that drivers doing that to help more cars through the light can mean the difference between a five minute wait to make a turn and a 20 minute wait. That’s meaningful when the person three cars behind you is trying to make a daycare pick-up deadline.

We can all stand to be a little kinder and more understanding toward each other.

It's only a problem when that inching into the crosswalk is not giving people a wide berth. Then you need to plan to leave earlier to make daycare pickup while driving in a crowded city. Take traffic as a fact of life and plan accordingly.

When pedestrians follow the law about only entering the crosswalk when the walk signal is on and stop entering the intersection once the don't walk signal is flashing, then I’ll worry about your “wide berth.” Traffic wouldn’t be nearly as bad if pedestrians followed the law too.

I don't know about Virginia but that is not the law in DC or Maryland.

And there are virtually no drivers in this area who are occupying any moral high ground when it comes to following the rules of the road - almost every driver I see is violating multiple laws almost continuously - it is not uncommon on my walks at almost every intersection to see a driver making an illegal right on red without stopping or using their turn signal while holding an active phone in their hand.

DP. The DC government actually does say pedestrians cannot enter a crosswalk when the Don’t Walk light is flashing. “No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of a “DON’T WALK” or “WAIT” signal.” https://ddot.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddot/publication/attachments/bike_ped_traffic_reg_summary.pdf

That is a summary explanation.

The actual law says that pedestrians cannot enter on a solid don't walk signal and has no language prohibiting entry on a flashing signal. If it were the case then the signals wouldn't have 3 phases.

No, you’re completely wrong. It says pedestrians may enter the crosswalk to the “walk” phase but not during the “do not walk” or “wait” phases. See reg 18-2302. Per the MUTCD (which DC has adopted), the flashing upraised hand (symbolizing “Don’t Walk”) means someone who already entered the intersection on the “Walk” may proceed to the far side, but no pedestrians may enter when the hand is flashing.

Thank you for citing the full law. I posted the summary and meant to look for the full cite after the follow up later to me claimed the summary was wrong. For years on this site I have seen posters insist that pedestrians can enter the crosswalk even if the don’t walk sign is flashing or solid. Maybe that used to be the law but it certainly is not the current law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a slow walker? If you are walking in a cross walk, why would it take you so long to get across that a driver can't start their turn?

Are you from Kansas?

Even if OP is slow, so what? You remind me of something I saw a few years back, a shiny black car, might have been a Lincoln Town car, I remember it was a fairly expensive car, with some men in suits, making a left while an older woman with a walker (!) was making her way across--she also had the green light. They were practically prodding her with their car to nudge her along, and I seem to recall a few horn blows while they were at it. I was so disgusted I followed them, they stopped at a place known for businessmen lunch meetings, and left a note on their windshield.

And it doesn't have a damn thing to do with whether you learned to drive in the suburbs or a rural area, pretty sure drivers ed courses still do the thing where you see a video (in my day it was a film) and are supposed to identify the hazards.

[Anonymous]

To those of you who want to police pedestrians crossing on a flashing hand, are you also advocating for policing those drivers who gun it to make a yellow light rather than slow down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those of you who want to police pedestrians crossing on a flashing hand, are you also advocating for policing those drivers who gun it to make a yellow light rather than slow down?

Are you thinking that people who say something is illegal are therefore out there trying to enforce the law themselves?

Drivers shouldn't enter an intersection on a yellow. Pedestrians shouldn't enter an intersection on a flashing or solid don't-walk sign (e.g., the hand).

Also, people who post misinformation SHOULD be corrected. Not beaten over the head with a stick, not thrown in jail, not run over with a car.-- just corrected. Primarily that's so they don't keep spreading misinformation.