From the e-mailbag:
Subject: I will hit your car
Dear Seattle Drivers,
If you speed up and your car is mere inches from my knees, trust me, I will knee your car. If you try to fly through a crosswalk I’m about to step into and you then stop in front of me to look both ways, whatever’s in my hand is going to meet your car’s side door, trunk, what have you. You do not have the right of way, and if more people started walking the streets armed with pedestrian-protection devices, you might think twice before putting our lives in danger. You see a pedestrian, you stop. You can wait the extra 10 seconds. We however, may not survive your impatience.
Sincerely,
Aggravated SeaTown Pedestrian
It really would be nice if pedestrians had a touch of common sense. I’ve given up on bicyclists, and assume that it is only a matter of time before I kill one, but all other things being equal I’d really rather not kill a pedestrian.
It’s simple:
Look both ways.
Don’t assume I can see you. This is particularly important if you are wearing camouflage, at dusk, in the middle of a block, between two parked cars, one of which is an SUV almost as tall as you, and you’re brown so you don’t even have pasty white skin to catch the headlights.
I was trying to parallel park once on a street where there was only one lane, but had those confusing bike symbol things painted on it? Anyway, I went to back into the spot while a guy on a bike was passing me on my right, (who checks for this?) I didn’t see him and he was pissed.
He stopped for like a second or two and while balancing, somehow took his front tire and made a big smudge mark on the door of my car.
It was kinda impressive, and classy. Like, just made a black mark to show his disdain, but without any property damage to my car, his bike or himself.
@46.
Yes, I can tell by your pic there that you are black, impoverished and beleaguered. If only someone had given you an education and a chance in life. You’ve lived it hard, I’m sure. While, clearly, talking about road safety and reality gave me away as a middle class white bourgeoisie tyrannical republican fascist. I repent. How dare I mention what actually happens on the roads of this city.
Class and race having nothing to do with people walking out in the middle of the street or cyclists who ignore the rules of the road. What are you talking about? I hope you feel ridiculous because you are being ridiculous, and I hope you at least have the sentient potential to recognize what everyone who read your silly comment did.
(And as for middle class, it often takes a shit load of money to live in areas where walking is a reliable transportation. Look at rent on Capitol Hill and downtown. Some of us can’t afford that and have to live further out but actually still get around, too.)
I’ve lived in places (mostly on the East Coast) where drivers routinely honk and yell and throw stuff at pedestrians. Not even sure why… anger and power issues, I suppose. But in any case, in those places, pedestrians give the right of way to the cars, because they don’t want to end up in the hospital or morgue.
Sidewalks are not the streets and when peds have to cross streets it’s usually at intersections – where there are usually at least two street lights and not dark at all, even at night.
peds really only have to look out for cars and not challenge them. it’s not that hard.
@52
Yup, peds suck in this place. Go to any other place on the planet besides west coast USA, and your asses will be mowed down in a heartbeat for not yielding to cars. Roads are for cars, not for people, idiots.
P.S. Why do all you Seattle drivers drive like little old ladies?
You know what? Fuck you. I almost got creamed by an asshole turning left because I walked behind a car trying to turn right that was taking up the crosswalk. Never again am I being polite to a driver too timid to just fucking turn already. It’s going to get me killed.
I always look behind me whenever I’m backing up. It’s called Driving 101. Even if you think the street is clear, any number of things (scooters, bikes, pedestrians) could pop up out of nowhere. It’s like fastening your seat belt the second you get into the car; it takes very little effort and can save a life.
Walkers – remember to give a “Thanks!” wave at alert drivers who pull to a stop to let you cross a street. (This town is better at that than most I’ve lived in, and I sure appreciate it.) This is about cooperation, not competition!
Confronting orprovoking assholes is never worth the risk even if it makes you feel good.
At 60+ comments in a couple hours I think we can call this story trolling.
…and since I can’t resist a good trolling….
The law says that you have to stop for a pedestrian at an intersection that doesn’t have a traffic light, whether there’s a crosswalk there or not. As a driver you need to do this. I know it’s not easy to spot a ninja on a dark and stormy night, but do your best and keep an eye out. If you do hit a pedestrian you can be sure that you will be fucked to some degree for the rest of your life. You will have nightmares and regrets. Yes, even you tough guy. You will pay obscenely high insurance for the rest of your life. Your karma, if you believe in that will be seriously off balance.
As a pedestrian you should expect that not all drivers are aware of this law, not all drivers are paying attention, and even the ones who are and mean well won’t always spot you in time to be able to make a complete stop. Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out. Better? Good. Now isn’t that better than having a temper tantrum with an asshole who may or may not get out of the car and knock your teeth out with a crow bar? Continue on your way and make sure you make eye contact with the driver before you cross their path. Bonus tip: some of these drivers are actually cute too.
A few years ago I was crossing with the walk light and a 16-year-old driver hit me (he proceeded to drive away). I was lucky to have no serious injuries, but the paperwork went on forever. The kid did get caught, but he never bothered to apologize.
The way drivers ignore pedestrians is completely appalling.
A few months ago on boingboing I read about a calmer, more-attractive solution for cyclists: yellow magnetic cards.
http://boingboing.net/2010/12/18/magneti…
OP: Please read the AAA studies on aggressive driving, especially the following quote.
A driver was shot to death “because he hit my car”
Let that sink in for a bit. Then reread the whole page again.
Most aggressive drivers are young, poorly educated males. But some are older men, or women with a car full of kids. No one is immune from psychotic breaks.
Is tapping someone’s door to register your displeasure worth being shot?
@63: The way drivers ignore pedestrians… in Seattle specifically? Or in the world in general?
This is why you should have an open carving knife when you walk in a crosswalk … the sound as the blade drags across the hood of the car is very intense.
People who commit acts of road rage should have their licenses suspended pending anger management classes.
Repeat offenders should be disqualified from driving and have their licenses permanently revoked. A driver’s use of the public roads is not a right.
Kneeing cars is OVER.
For the people who insists on a) eye contact and b) looking both ways: DON’T YOU THINK I FUCKING DO THAT? The problem is that I can only do that before I cross, and when people drive on or just above the speed limit on, say, 15th Ave NW in Ballard, turning right onto Market *without even bother to look*, they were too far away to be noticeable when I started, and I am already halfway over the street before they’re close enough to have eye contact with. Right on red is a fucking plague on civilization. Also? As useful as eye contact can be, it wouldn’t be NEEDED if drivers followed the law. I’ve never broken pedestrian laws, and yet come close to dying too many times to count.
@65: I typed a “here” and promptly deleted it–drivers are plowing pedestrians all over. That said, it’s more insulting in Seattle because the city brags about being pedestrian-friendly.
@69: Yup, that’s where and how I got hit.
@62 was the only example of a calm, well-reasoned argument in this whole thread. Reading this comment makes me feel 100% better about humanity. Cooler heads prevail.
@59. . . no it wasn’t backing up in the street. it was backing into an open spot next to the curb. . . the traffic stops behind you. You look back, to see where your going, then check your front so it doesn’t swing into the opposite lane and then look into the passenger side mirror for the curb. If mr. fix-ee-zippy decides to make his own lane passing all of the cars on his right. . who were patiently waiting for me to park on a single lane-two-way street without a dedicated bike lane. . . um. . . yeah that has nothing to do with my driving. weaving through stopped traffic without a lane is risky for him and I’m glad he was fine. . . since I stopped. . . it’s just his sense of entitlement that didn’t.
@ 69 (tee hee, 69) You think right on red is a plague on civilization–you may be right, haven’t thought much about it, honestly–but one of the complaints in this thread is that drivers don’t obey the laws. Clearly, right on red is the law, so maybe angry peds should lobby to change that law and put their anger to productive use?
And good for you for being safe and following all the rules, both in terms of law and common sense! This might not totally protect you from douchey drivers, but good drivers appreciate it. Now can you have a ped to ped chat with the guy who stepped out between two cars to cross the street in the middle of the block two nights ago without looking and while wearing a black sweatshirt? He never even realized I had to slam on my brakes and was only a few feet from hitting him. That was the situation *I* thought of when I read this pissed-off driver-hating email.
Not all drivers are reckless douche waffles; not all peds are responsible; not all drivers are careful; not all peds are clueless righteous asshats. Now we’re all back to being friends, yes?
I make an actual effort not to be a total douche whether I’m walking, biking, or driving. There, now, is that so hard?
(Although I will say I have been sorely tempted as a pedestrian to carry a boat horn around with me for the more oblivious drivers. WHOOOONNNNNKKK!)
@ 11, 19, 52 right on!
there are too many asshole peds in this town ruining it for everyone else. i am a respectful driver and appreciate pedestrian’s right of way. but i don’t respect fuckwads that are nowhere to be seen when i pull into a crosswalk to take a right turn and am waiting for traffic to clear, only to walk in front of me and shoot me dirty ass looks or act like they are going to hit my car. i was there first, making a legal turn, not racing anyone to get there. you hit my car, and I am not at fault, there is going to be a confrontation.
and yes i have given up on bicyclists in this town as well. to the point where my commute stresses me the fuck out, particularly on westlake and eastlake after dark in the rain when they have inadequate headlamps and come up behind you or weave in and out of everything at a red light. or keep going past you on the right as you are getting ready to make a right turn and have your signal on. if you want to be treated like a car on the road, get a horn and stay in the stream of traffic if there is no bike lane.
now with all that being vented, thanks @73 for speaking sanely. lol.
Watched someone knock on a car who pulled across a sidewalk and almost ran over a mom and her two little girls. guy flipped out, got out and hit him in the face, then drive off.
Not worth it.
BTW, the car was a new-model silver dodge magnum, washington plates 003-UAU, and the driver lives in Kirkland, according to the cops. If anyone wants to deflate some ‘ego’…
I wouldn’t think twice about kick a reckless car when I am trying to cross the road. That being said, it bothers me when people wearing dark clothes cross the middle of the road and walk really slowly. Yes, you have the right of way but it’s really scary and dangerous. I don’t want to kill anyone because I couldn’t see them. If you really have to cross the road where there is poor lighting then at least try to hurry and if you can’t hurry cross with a lot of room and distance.
It’s also frustrating for me when pedestrians enter a crosswalk at the very lest second when the sign is flashing don’t walk or is on a solid don’t walk. I’m not about to run anybody over but I feel like it is really rude.
Time for an anti-car joke:
Why were there only 10,000 Mexicans at the Alamo?
They could only get one car.
@54- Those confusing bike markings are called sharrows and they’re supposed to remind you that it’s legal for bikes to ride there. Of course, it’s legal to ride bikes everywhere (unless specially noted) so they’re kind of dumb, like a “Do Not Litter” sign.
The bicyclist should have gone around you on the left (if safe, or they should have just stopped) when you signaled and slowed to park. You’re right, no one checks to make sure bikes are zipping into the gap as you park. Now if there had been a bike lane and you were still in the car lane, I could see a bike passing you on the right because they had no idea what the hell you were doing. Especially if you hadn’t signaled.
You did signal, didn’t you?
This is nothing compared to playing Frogger driving down MLK or Rainier Ave. It’s the kind of stupidity that makes you think it’s genetic.
Mind you, i’d love to see angry white boy here smack the hood of a low riding 1994 Civic with $4000 rims and tinted windows who cuts him off outside Tacoma Mall.
No, peds, you don’t always have the right of way. Nice try. City streets are not a parking lot; you can’t walk anywhere you damn well please. You have the right of way at intersections w/o stop lights & at intersections w/stop lights when the “walk” sign is flashing. Other than that, you are breaking the damn law by crossing in the middle of a street or against a light.
You think it is fun for a driver to almost hit a pedestrian who is acting like an asshat? We have just as much expectation that pedestrians will follow the law as pedestrians have that drivers will follow the law.
So how about taking some responsibility for yourselves and your own lives instead of assuming that every single driver out there sees every single pedestrian and cyclist on the road every single time. Follow the law and have some common sense, ffs, you entitled, arrogant jackasses.
As other people have said, I think right on red, especially in the more developed parts of the city, is a big part of pedestrian/jaywalker danger. It adds another axis of uncertainty to crossing the street, especially when cars fail to signal or fail to stop… or when pedestrians fail to get off their smart phone when crossing the road.
a cautionary tale: I lightly back-handed someone’s grill a couple years ago after they came to an abrupt stop in the middle of the crosswalk and got my ass beat from behind by two dudes riding in the truck. My principled act earned me a night in Harborview, a broken nose, scratched cornea and a $2k bill to chip away at for the next 2 years. I agree in theory, but in practice, you’d better be ready for things to escalate…quickly
@83,
Your story just reminded me of another incident a few years ago, where an off-duty firefighter tapped the back of a car (not to complain of bad driving, just to make the driver aware of his presence). The driver took off after him (in the car) and deliberately crashed into him, pinning him against a wall.
I think there’s very strong correlation between people who drive aggressively/erratically and people who will fuck you up if you dare complain.
“I think there’s very strong correlation between people who drive aggressively/erratically and people who will fuck you up if you dare complain.”
You’re talking about aggro cyclists right?
@79 “Sharrows” cool.
heh, yeah I signaled. . . I parallel park on that street a lot and signaling early helps the cars slow down behind you and they usually will give you some extra space so you can back into the space. . . cause you have to stop the lane from moving mid block to do this. . .
@84
I wonder if there is a correlation between thread rage and road rage?
I agree with 34. To those lovely cars trying to be nice: Unless it’s a light or crosswalk, please don’t slow down or stop or change your behavior because I’m standing at the intersection (still FAR from your car). This will make it easier to predict how to navigate the crossing, and I won’t feel rushed. Also the lanes next to you are not stopping with you so the danger of getting hit is still very real, only now I feel rushed and obligated and get more careless.
Sorry.
@Fried Worms
yikes, you still seem to be a delirious! I know when I drive my car I get a little bit of entitlement running through my veins too (yes, i do drive, ride my bike, walk & take the bus with equal frequency). But what you are ultimately forgetting is that driving is privilege, not a right, and believe it or not, it’s much akin to walking around a city with a gun mounted to your head with the trigger attached to your chin while a man tickles your nose with a feather. All it takes is a sneeze, a groggy morning, temporary daydream or a cellphone call and BAM…someones fucking dead on your hood. With this in mind, you have a hefty challenge on your hands, not only do you have to pay for this expensive car (Plus insurance), you are faced daily with the task of not killing other people. Now if this sounds too difficult I’m sure we can both agree dropping a couple extra bones for an apartment closer to the city is well worth this stress that driving has caused + the risk of human life. Now you say, what about the other folks involved in this equation???? Yes, your possible victims! Well, I gotta say, they deserve much, much more respect than you are giving them, even if they are a little dumb or aggro or entitled or sleepy or just plain rude….they aren’t the ones walking around town with a gun strapped to their head.
In conclusion, you seem like a smart, articulate, respectful & safe Seattlite but remember: privilege, not right.
@ 20- that is a common misperception; peds waiting on a corner with no crosswalk have the ROW (it is called an “unmarked crosswalk”- it exists and is treated as a crosswalk in terms of tickets, trust me I have gotten a parking ticket for parking within 5 feet of one). Anyway, the point is, cars should stop for peds waiting to cross at such places (the city should do us all a favor and paint a crosswalk but that will never happen). If the guy next to you does not stop, that’s his bad. You shouldn’t also not stop, or assume that he won’t. I always stop if I see someone in the next lane stopped at a corner because I assume there is a ped waiting to cross. Other people in this city have similar abilities to use common sense (though this number is decreasing every day).
@32- I jaywalk all the time when the coast is clear and it is safe to do so. However, I have also been given a ticket (over a $100) from an asshole traffic cop with a god complex after doing so on James St. He actually told me that *I* could have held up a car (if one had come along) or caused damage to one if it hit me (!?) I know others who have received similar nonsense tickets downtown. If no traffic is coming, I don’t see the harm in running for it. The Seattle police love to make money off this type of common sense and I think that’s why you will see many people waiting forever for a light to change.
Fuck you and fuck your car. I have been hit by a car twice on my bike, and have been threatened with being run over (car speeding up to me, and skidding to a stop blaring the horn telling me to get out of the way when it’s MY light). If this is you, I will fuck up your car. My sister already fucked up someone’s car. She jumped right on top of the hood and started smacking the windshield, and left two dents in the hood. The cops sided with us. I haven’t caused any damage yet, but I have covered a few windshields in coffee. Next time someone tries to run me over, I’m smashing my metal thermos into their hood.
@39, concur that it sure feels good to make that hit. its all about closure.
i usually choose the top of the trunk and use my hand, with a slapping motion. 2nd and union is the place i’ve been cut off the most, and where i’ve been able to retaliate most succesfully……
@91 – Maybe you need to start riding a little differently before you have accident #3. We all have to grow up sometime.
i love slapping cars that deserve it. been doing since i was as teen. as a runner, you get the chances to slap many vehicles. back then there weren’t so many cell phones now. distracted driver is worse. people rushing about distracted and frenzied don’t notice as many things, especially when they forget to look both ways before turning right. those who turn right without making sure both directions are clear and would have hit me if I had not been paying attention deserve a slap to their vehicle. it makes them remember that there are pedestrians around them. sometimes walkers are inebriated, other ones are old or lacking reflexes. i hit cars as much for my pleasure as i do for those less able to dodge that vehicle or remember that a lot of drivers aren’t paying attention to walkers. don’t be afraid of the drivers, most of them are just words. assholes who do that deserve two slaps if you can be fairly certain they aren’t psychopaths.
i even take a little thrill at times thinking that even just for a moment they actually hit something. it could be the wake-up call they needed.
you can’t just do this everywhere though. seattle is a safe place for it. do it in detroit and you are risking a lot more.
and cabbies are a whole other story. they drive around like maniacs heeding little attention to the safety of other people. they deserve ever bit of retribution they get.
@93
FTW
i can’t imagine many of the car slappees are native seattlites, who are way to passive to engage in such behavior. though it was is responsible for responding to ever intersection as a crossing. nowhere in an east coast/midwestern city would you ever see motorists stop just because they see people waiting to cross the road. if i were a driver i’d be annoyed to. as a walker, i find it annoying. the waiting for the crosswalk thing is hilarious too. i swear some of these motherlickers would wait 5 minutes to cross with no cars if i could just get my hands on a device that would allow me to control the walk/don’t walk signal. never noticed the dirty look thing though, too busy cruising to my destination to notice. order is just as much of a problem as disorder.
WHAT IS YOUR FUCKING HURRY?
Really, people, think about it. In a big rush to get to the next red light? And also try not to lose your mind over a god damn paint job. If you can’t do that you should be removed from society.
This quote:
“If you try to fly through a crosswalk I’m about to step into and you then stop in front of me to look both ways, whatever’s in my hand is going to meet your car’s side door, trunk, what have you.” makes me think he’s talking about what I have to dodge constantly in LQA and Capitol Hill. Drivers who are going to make a right turn at a red light will just fly up to and through the crosswalk. And they’re so busy looking to the left for traffic that they don’t see me to their right, trying to cross the damn street when the light is green for me. The freaking law is that you stop first, then move forward so you can see to make that free right.
Ah you Pacific North-westerners, and your quaint pedestrian, bicycle, and car right-of-way notions. You wouldn’t last a day in downtown Baltimore.
Yes, it’s the car drivers with all the anger issues…sounds like the most
angry, entitled people are white, college educated hipsters here on Slog
who can’t afford cars yet:
“Fuck you and fuck your car.”
“sure feels good to make that hit.”
“i even take a little thrill”
“jumped right on top of the hood and started smacking the windshield”
“i love slapping cars”
“WHAT IS YOUR FUCKING HURRY?”
“I dumped a cup of coffee on a car”
“just hood or fender thump instead”
“Your knee is way stronger than nearly all car-door side-panels.”
“carry a u-lock”
“I kick at cars”
“I’m going to put my foot through someone’s window someday.”
“I will fuck up your car”
@91 and 95
Thanks for your concern, but actually I was obeying all the rules of the road at the time.
I was crossing the street with the light as a 12 year old when a car took a left, swerved into my lane and hit my bike out from under me.
I was riding in the left hand lane preparing to make a left hand turn when a van entered my lane and drove past me, knocking me off my seat with it’s side view mirror. Care to explain what I could have done differently?
My step dad was driving down the street when a mac truck hit him from behind, because the driver wasn’t paying attention.
You’re right, were bad people and we deserve the injuries we got with our willy nilly driving ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE ROAD. It’s clearly our fault that we were hit from behind.
What the fuck do you know?
#100 Adrenalin provokes those kinds of responses. When a walk signal was lit, in daylight, I traveled the crosswalk, looking both ways, and a car sped up to me, its driver eager to make a left turn, not noticing the crosswalk was occupied, missing me by six inches. My internal fight-or-flight response kicked in. I made a note of the license plate, and telephoned the police. The police went to the driver’s house and the driver apologized profusely. I felt physically threatened by inattentive drivers, just as bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists do.
I am not certain how you connect irritation of being needlessly threatened while following the rules of the road with not being able to afford a car. Where are you that you need a car to cross a street, or never have to watch for moving cars in a parking lot? Why do you associate the inability to afford a car with people who bicycle for health, walk their dogs, or accompany their children to school?
When humans are physically threatened, their fight-or-flight mechanism is activated by adrenalin. You may file that in your random access memory, with keywords “adrenalin,” “fear”, “threat”, “stressor” and “panic.”
Until I read reports of genuine remorse from drivers who have hit, injured, maimed or killed other people, I’m going to assume they’re like Alexander Peder who didn’t let two prior DUIs get in the way of his slaughter of two recent high school graduates.