Pushing Baby Strollers

[GirlySports]

Yesterday at Chinook Centre I had a real scare.
I was backing out of the parking lot (looked around and saw noone) and then heard some screaming and then tapping on my rear bumper/window. I had nearly hit a baby stroller.

Then to my surprise, when I drove forward back into the stall and stepped out to see what was going on, witnesses were yelling at the mother instead of at me!

Please mothers (and fathers), when you're crossing the road or parking lot in between parked cars don't lead with the stroller!

[jam26]

My pet peeve is when parents jaywalk with a baby stroller. It's unbelievable that people will push their children into oncoming traffic rather than walking the 25 feet to a crosswalk.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yesterday at Chinook Centre I had a real scare.
I was backing out of the parking lot (looked around and saw noone) and then heard some screaming and then tapping on my rear bumper/window. I had nearly hit a baby stroller.

Then to my surprise, when I drove forward back into the stall and stepped out to see what was going on, witnesses were yelling at the mother instead of at me!

Please mothers (and fathers), when you're crossing the road or parking lot in between parked cars don't lead with the stroller!

No offense, but I would have been yelling at you, not the mother. I try to be aware of cars in parking lots when I have the stroller, but as the person backing up, you're responsible for being sure no-one is behind you. What if it had been a person--or another car? I agree that parents shouldn't jaywalk with strollers, but to expect them to walk around parking lots backwards because people don't check behind them well enough is a little unreasonable.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

but to expect them to walk around parking lots backwards because people don't check behind them well enough is a little unreasonable.

Is it unreasonable to expect people to be a little more aware of the cars around them when they're pushing around a stroller which is probably below the sightline of the vehicles? dunno about everyone elses cars but when i am about to backup these bright white lights come on on the back of my car signaling my attention.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Is it unreasonable to expect people to be a little more aware of the cars around them when they're pushing around a stroller which is probably below the sightline of the vehicles? dunno about everyone elses cars but when i am about to backup these bright white lights come on on the back of my car signaling my attention.

The stroller doesn't push itself. Surely the parent is not below your sightline, unless you're driving a Monster Truck.

And yeah, they should be aware of what they're doing. But when you're backing out of a parking stall, you're also supposed to yield the right-of-way, both to other cars and to pedestrians.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Dan02

dunno about everyone elses cars but when i am about to backup these bright white lights come on on the back of my car signaling my intention.

Fixed, and ###.

People walk through parking lots like they own the place. Yes, as a pedestrian you have right of way. But right of way does not mean zero responsibility for your own safety.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

No offense, but I would have been yelling at you, not the mother. I try to be aware of cars in parking lots when I have the stroller, but as the person backing up, you're responsible for being sure no-one is behind you. What if it had been a person--or another car? I agree that parents shouldn't jaywalk with strollers, but to expect them to walk around parking lots backwards because people don't check behind them well enough is a little unreasonable.

That doesn't excuse the woman from putting her child in the path of a moving car.

It's not unreasonable to expect the woman to understand that walking behind parked cars with a stroller is risky. The stroller isn't visible, and seeing people walking along the row can be tricky due to blind spots. You could be the most careful person on the planet and still miss someone walking behind your car. Responsibility exists on both sides.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

The stroller doesn't push itself. Surely the parent is not below your sightline

The parent is behind the car next to you, stroller 3 feet in front of them.

Obviously the OP was backing up slowly enough (as you are supposed to do) so that people would be able to see this large vehicle moving into the path of their stroller.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

No offense, but I would have been yelling at you, not the mother. I try to be aware of cars in parking lots when I have the stroller, but as the person backing up, you're responsible for being sure no-one is behind you. What if it had been a person--or another car? I agree that parents shouldn't jaywalk with strollers, but to expect them to walk around parking lots backwards because people don't check behind them well enough is a little unreasonable.

You're right and I do feel responsible but if it had been another person or another car then I can see that. I can't see the stroller when it's ahead of the person and below my bumper. If the mom had pulled the stroller behind her then I would have easily seen her first.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Fixed, and ###.

People walk through parking lots like they own the place. Yes, as a pedestrian you have right of way. But right of way does not mean zero responsibility for your own safety.

Right--and that isn't what I said, either. The OP suggested that parents actually "not lead" with the stroller. Meaning that they would have to walk backwards through the parking lot, pulling the stroller behind them, just because some people can't be bothered to turn their head a little bit.

[photon]

Very true, driving a car in a forest of SUVs with super dark tint it can be difficult if not impossible to see out enough sometimes, so the only option is to go slowly and blindly and watch so you can stop if anything/one comes up until you can see properly.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You're right and I do feel responsible but if it had been another person or another car then I can see that. I can't see the stroller when it's ahead of the person and below my bumper. If the mom had pulled the stroller behind her then I would have easily seen the person first because they are taller.

Fair enough--but it must have been some stroller. Ours would be at most 2 feet in front of me. Mind you, I've seen some big ones.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

The stroller doesn't push itself. Surely the parent is not below your sightline, unless you're driving a Monster Truck.

And yeah, they should be aware of what they're doing. But when you're backing out of a parking stall, you're also supposed to yield the right-of-way, both to other cars and to pedestrians.

Yes but the front of the stroller is 4 feet in front of the parent. If you shoulder check then look back over your right shoulder you can easily not see a stroller coming from the right when backing up. Its your job to watch for pedestrians in the parking lot, not strollers, those are the responsibility of the parent.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Yes but the front of the stroller is 4 feet in front of the parent. If you shoulder check then look back over your right shoulder you can easily not see a stroller coming from the right when backing up. Its your job to watch for pedestrians in the parking lot, not strollers, those are the responsibility of the parent.

4 feet?!?!?

I'm going to go ahead and assume you've never actually pushed a stroller. I've seen some big ass ones, but 4 feet is a little excessive.

In any case, I'm not sure we disagree that much--both parties should be careful--and yeah, you should be backing out slowly enough that the chance for harm is minimal anyway.

[mykalberta]

Agreed, the average stroller probably is only 2 ft.

But you could get some of these babies (from strollers.com)

The Honda Accord of strollers - 2 Feet


The Lexus of strollers 3.5 Feet


The Minivan Soccermom of strollers 4.5 Feet

[Buff]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You're right and I do feel responsible but if it had been another person or another car then I can see that. I can't see the stroller when it's ahead of the person and below my bumper. If the mom had pulled the stroller behind her then I would have easily seen her first.

I rarely see people pull the strollers. In fact the only time I can remember somebody pushing instead of pulling was to keep the sunlight out of their child's face.

The reason why the strollers are pushed and not pulled is due to ease. It is difficult to pull the stroller. Pushing, which is the intended use, is much easier. I am not making excuses for anyone's carelessness or stupidity, but merely an explanation of why people push and not pull.

[Phaneuf3]

Originally Posted by Buff

The reason why the strollers are pushed and not pulled is due to ease. It is difficult to pull the stroller. Pushing, which is the intended use, is much easier. I am not making excuses for anyone's carelessness or stupidity, but merely an explanation of why people push and not pull.

furthermore, you're just trading one problem for another - if you can't clearly see the stroller cause its so close to the ground you might see the parent pass and start to reverse not being able to see that they have a stroller in tow.

[Canada 02]

http://www.visorview.com/

some luxury cars already have this built in

[PowerPlayoffs06]

People can be pretty arrogant as pedestrians in parking lots. I can't count the number of times I've come out after a movie and am backing out of my parking stall, slowly and carefully, when groups of people come around corners out from between cars parked around me and and just walk right into my path instead of stopping for the several seconds it would take me to finish backing out.

The same goes for when I've already backed fully out of my stall and am ready to move forward and drive away, people just walk infront of my truck instead of stopping to allow me to proceed so Im stuck sitting in the middle of the lane while these twits file through infront of me because they can't be bothered to wait three seconds for me to put my vehicle into drive.

These people clearly aren't in any danger until they place themselves into the path of my vehicle. I'm not pulling my vehicle out into their path.

[Superflyer]

Originally Posted by photon

Very true, driving a car in a forest of SUVs with super dark tint it can be difficult if not impossible to see out enough sometimes, so the only option is to go slowly and blindly and watch so you can stop if anything/one comes up until you can see properly.

This is so true, I drive a PT Cruiser, not small but not big and if I am parked in between two large SUV's or minivans with dark tinting (which does happen quite a bit) I really have to try to strain and really focus to try to see if anyone is coming, and it is not easy, never mind if it is dark out as well or in a parking garage.