Panhandlers / Squeegee Kids

[Engine09]

On the way to the game on Tuesday a friend and I came across a quite disturbing scene on the corner of 17th Ave and 14th St. A body lying on the road and the driver of the truck that hit him very emotionally distraught. He was on his cell phone reporting the accident and crying uncontrollably. I can only assume that the person on the road died since someone at the scene covered him up. Did anyone hear about this accident on the news?

Anyways, the guy had shabby clothes and a cardboard sign, quite obvious he was walking up to cars and asking for change. Next time you see these guys walking between cars and darting through traffic tell them to get off the road or call the police to take care of the situation. I don't know who's fault this was but I can only imagine the guilt that driver must be feeling.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

What a terrible situation...

While I am in favor of people being entrepreneurial and trying to make a living I have always been against the squeegee business previously for my own reasons, but now I am even more against it for their own safety reasons.

[Tron_fdc]

I live close to that intersection, and those kids are there all the time. They're annoying, but people do have to realize that in a marked crosswalk the pedestrian has the right of way....even if he's carrying a squeegee. I wonder how fast the guy was going though? You would think it's pretty hard to get enough speed up in that area to kill somebody.

In other news, to the ######bag driving the black Saturn who almost hit me last night in a marked crosswalk: Next time the loogie I put on your windshield will be replaced by my fist in your septum. Same goes for your buddy who rolled down the window and called me an idiot......did you get your license in China? Or did your parents inbreed and forget to give you a brain?

Anyone know what the fine is for not yielding to pedestrians at a marked crosswalk? It happens to me almost every day when I'm jogging, and I'm going to start taking down plates of people who try to run me down.

[CrusaderPi]

Listen Tron, I appreciate your anger, but you've got to realize that cars are bigger then you. Some of the responsibility has to be on you here. If you almost get hit everyday I think you may be taking 'pedestrians have the right of way' to literally. I'd consider waiting for the black Saturn to pass by, then crossing the street.

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Listen Tron, I appreciate your anger, but you've got to realize that cars are bigger then you. Some of the responsibility has to be on you here. If you almost get hit everyday I think you may be taking 'pedestrians have the right of way' to literally. I'd consider waiting for the black Saturn to pass by, then crossing the street.

So it was YOU in the black Saturn was it?!

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Listen Tron, I appreciate your anger, but you've got to realize that cars are bigger then you. Some of the responsibility has to be on you here. If you almost get hit everyday I think you may be taking 'pedestrians have the right of way' to literally. I'd consider waiting for the black Saturn to pass by, then crossing the street.

Uhhh not sure what rules you are following on the road, or what country you live in, but here you have to yeild to pedestrians. A car never has the right to hit a pedestrian if he/she is not crossing at the right time.

I believe the fine for not yielding to a pedestrian at a crosswalk is $500.

[CaptainCrunch]

During the summer months, I'm seeing more and more of these squeegee guys. It drives me nuts, they start cleaning my windows with a dirty squeegee's and filthy rags and then start looking at me through my now dirt stained windshield expecting money.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Uhhh not sure what rules you are following on the road, or what country you live in, but here you have to yeild to pedestrians. A car never has the right to hit a pedestrian if he/she is not crossing at the right time.

I believe the fine for not yielding to a pedestrian at a crosswalk is $500.

Hey, I know the rule, and when I'm driving I do my absolute best not to hit anyone. But think about it rationally:

Cars are big and hard.
People are small and squishy.

When I'm walking I make sure I don't get hit by the big hard car because I know it'll hurt. Tron says he a near misses with cars all the time. I know he technically has the right of way in a crosswalk, but dude need to practice a little self preservation.

[Engine09]

Everyday I cross over a street at a crosswalk and practially have to wave my arms at cars before they stop. Typical of people these days, so absorbed in their own little lives that they barely notice anyone else.

Different story when you have people walking between cars asking for change.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Hey, I know the rule, and when I'm driving I do my absolute best not to hit anyone. But think about it rationally:

Cars are big and hard.
People are small and squishy.

When I'm walking I make sure I don't get hit by the big hard car because I know it'll hurt. Tron says he a near misses with cars all the time. I know he technically has the right of way in a crosswalk, but dude need to practice a little self preservation.

I don't think he is walking out into the street with his eyes closed. Lots of times cars on your left stop, but the ones on the right don't, even when your half way through the cross walk.

The intersection infront my old juniorhigh was a death trap. It even had the above flashing pedestrian lights, and no one would stop for us. I remeber once we were half way through the intersection and this van didn't stop and I could have hit it with my hand it was so close. He was probably doing 5-60 kph.

I understand common sense must be exersied. But sometimes you'll be wating at intersections forever unless you really show the cars that you want to cross. And some drivers don't want to put the effort in to move their foot over 6 inches and push.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

Hey, I know the rule, and when I'm driving I do my absolute best not to hit anyone. But think about it rationally:

Cars are big and hard.
People are small and squishy.

When I'm walking I make sure I don't get hit by the big hard car because I know it'll hurt. Tron says he a near misses with cars all the time. I know he technically has the right of way in a crosswalk, but dude need to practice a little self preservation.

I'm quite spry for someone who is almost 200lbs, so I'm not too worried about being able to get out of the way.

The knob who almost hit me is the one who should be practising self preservation, because next time I'll run the jack ass down (won't be hard in this city) and knock his teeth out.

[sec304]

It's tough to notice those small squishy people trying to cross the road when you're driving 60km/h talking on your cell phone, changing your CD and eating fries at the same time while steering with your knees!

[Reggie Dunlop]

I drive through that intersection on my daily commute. Those guys have been there for years, and routinely are oblivious to the traffic lights (not sure if they're stoned or what).

Sad to hear this accident happened, of course.

[Prototype]

I drive throught that intersection often too, and I can't stand them. I don't want anyone but me touching my car. I don't care how hard done by you are, especially in today's economy.

Ususally the job done by those idiots is worse than what your windshield was to begin with. I tried one time so turn on the wipers and the kid yelled at me that it's free.

Free or not, get the hell away from my car.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

I drive throught that intersection often too, and I can't stand them. I don't want anyone but me touching my car. I don't care how hard done by you are, especially in today's economy.

Ususally the job done by those idiots is worse than what your windshield was to begin with. I tried one time so turn on the wipers and the kid yelled at me that it's free.

Free or not, get the hell away from my car.

Turn your squirter thingies around so they point forward. Next time those kids come around your car give 'em a blast of antifreeze....that should stop 'em.

[CrusaderPi]

Originally Posted by sec304

It's tough to notice those small squishy people trying to cross the road when you're driving 60km/h talking on your cell phone, changing your CD and eating fries at the same time while steering with your knees!

All the more reason for pedestrians to look the hell out.

[SpitFire40]

I once yelled to an approaching street kid about my age with squeegee in hand "I don't remember holding up a help wanted sign, but I hear there are thousands of them on the city" He looked puzzled

There's no excuse to stand there like a dolt on a median with a fricken card board cut out. Not to mention it's extremely dangerous.

[Nicole]

That's a really sad story and I feel for the driver of the truck ... it would be a horrible thing to live with.

I also have to say that I agree with CrusaderPi, in that pedestrians need to take more care when crossing the road, regardless of the fact that they have the right of way. Of course drivers legally are required to stop for pedestrians but obviously not everyone does and so I think it's equally irresponsible of so many pedestrians that I see who just venture out onto the road, expecting the cars to stop for them .. especially on days when the roads are slippery. I always wait to make sure that the cars are coming to a complete stop for me, I politely wave at them to acknowldge them and thank them for stopping and then I jog across the road so that they don't have to wait forever.

As it is the responsibilty of the driver to stop for a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk (I hate Jay Walkers ), it is also the equal responsibility of the pedestrian to ensure that it is safe to cross.

And yes, I do believe it is a $500 fine if you get caught NOT stopping for a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk .. too bad it isn't enforced.

[Sylvanfan]

There was some guy in Edmonton at an intersection the other day claiming he needed change and smokes for a trip to Victoria. I'd like to know why he needed smokes to go to Victoria.

I feel bad for the people involved in this incident. I admit that a couple times I didn't see people behind other cars at cross walks and failed to stop myself. It's not something I try to do, but I admit that it does happen. Last night two woman wearing black jackets were at one and I didn't see them until I was into the cross walk. Luckily they had the sense not to cross as I was coming.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

All the more reason for pedestrians to look the hell out.

Obviously pedestrians should look the hell out, but drivers who can't stop, don't stop or are too goddamn dumb (essentially the only reason) to stop for a pedestrian don't have any excuses.