Panhandlers / Squeegee Kids

[llama64]

When it comes to the squigee kids, I tend to ignore them and hide behind my dashboard like Michael Bolton listening to rap music.

But there are a couple things that have begun to annoy the crap out of me when driving.

Pedestrians tend to think that they have right of way at all times, even if they are crossing against a "Do Not Walk" sign. When that light starts flashing, it's saying to clear the street in preparation for the light change. It is also there to allow the cars trying to turn right a chance to make it before the light switches. Any pedestrian that enters after the "Walk" light has switched off gets honked at in my books.

Second, and getting off topic (sorry!) are cyclists. I drop my wife off alot during the morning at 3rd street and 5th ave downtown. Trying to drive up 3rd is like driving through the tour de france these days. I don't have a problem sharing the road, but I hate it when cyclists think they are some sort of hybrid pedestrian/vehicle. They sneak up the right side of the car and jut right out in front of me while I'm trying to turn onto 6th. I nearly hit one the other day... frickin moron.

Not only do I have to watch out for late crossing pedestrians, but now I have to deal with suicidle cyclists... maybe I should move to a small town!

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

#2 - You don't walk (as a pedestrian) much, do you? I have been a driver and a pedestrian for a fair bit of time. Do you want to know how many times I have done what you suggested, and almost been hit by the vehicle behind you, had the vehicle I am walking behind suddenly back up for no apparent reason, or slipped on a chunk of ice that I can't see because I am sandwhiched between 2 cars.

So if you do it too, apparently you feel that there is some merit to what I'm saying? You must have some real bad luck as I have never had a problem.

If your sandwiched between two cars, and you can't see a chunk of ice as a result, praps that wasn't the best time to be doing it? I mean, cmon, a certain amount of common sense does need to be applied here.

[Engine09]

Steve Buscemi in Ghost World, great scene.

I have to agree, annoying as hell when you're waiting to turn and someone is walking at a snail's pace. But there is no way in hell I would ever walk in between 2 cars and risk getting squashed.

I tell you, 12 years of riding a motorcycle will teach you to watch out for every ###### on the road. You basically have to pretend that everyone is out to kill you.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

OK, you guys are apparently mis-interpreting what I meant. I'm sitting at, say, a T-intersection waiting to turn left. A pedestrian approaches from my left, instead of walking in front of me, take a few steps to the right and go behind me. I see he is going behind me and proceed to make my turn. I have done this numerous times and have not even had a sniff of any danger as a result of doing so. I have even had a number of appreciative waves from people seeing me do this when I'm a pedestrian for them as they have managed get into the opening they would have missed if I had walked in front of them.

Yeah I guess I was misinterpreting. I do that too.

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

And yes, in the event of you making a right hand turn, it very well could be safer to walk behind the car turning and I will give you an example.

Outside my office last week, a pedestrian walked in front of a car waiting to turn right, driver had his head turned left, soon as the opening came, he proceeded but did not see the pedestrain approaching from the left and wound up hitting him pretty good. Would have been avoided had he walked behind instead of in front.

Not saying the driver wasn't a bonehead but that's my example.

I don't get it. The pedestrian was approaching from the left and the driver didn't see him? Is he blind?

One thing that does happen quite often is a right-turning car will have a moron behind the wheel staring to his left and then tromping on the gas without even looking where he is going when he gets his precious opening. This is particularly dangerous for the person he doesn't see who happens to be legally crossing the road on the driver's right.

It's so dangerous, in fact, that a pedestrian should give up all hope that people behind the wheel have any sense whatsoever, and he should probably stand at a green light until they are absolutely positive the driver of the right-turning car has spotted them.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Steve Buscemi in Ghost World, great scene.

I have to agree, annoying as hell when you're waiting to turn and someone is walking at a snail's pace. But there is no way in hell I would ever walk in between 2 cars and risk getting squashed.

I tell you, 12 years of riding a motorcycle will teach you to watch out for every ###### on the road. You basically have to pretend that everyone is out to kill you.

That last statement is a truism for us motorcycle riders. Me I moved to a small town where drivers and pedestrians don't have ignorant attitudes. Not saying it's perfect, but I like it when both have consideration for each.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

So if you do it too, apparently you feel that there is some merit to what I'm saying? You must have some real bad luck as I have never had a problem.

If your sandwiched between two cars, and you can't see a chunk of ice as a result, praps that wasn't the best time to be doing it? I mean, cmon, a certain amount of common sense does need to be applied here.

I have done it because I have been forced to - i.e. a car is often already in the intersection, usually completely blocking it. So I am left with these options:

-to continue walking in the intersection, where I am supposed to be, I would have to literally climb over the car (or do the Dukes of Hazard thing and slide in and out thru the windows of it)

-go around it, out into the intersection - now that's real safe; or

-go behind it.

So in response, I don't necessarily do it out of choice.

As for all of the things (slip on ice, nudged by the car behind, etc) some have happened to me, and I have seen some of them happen or almost happen to others.

If I go behind the car, and slip on some ice or get car crud (dirt, snow, etc) from the 2 cars I am inbetween, then it is my fault because I didn't use common sense?

But if I go in front of the car, in the interesection, where I am supposed to be, then its also my fault because I am making you wait?

You are right, I guess I don't have much common sense

[Dodsdomd]

I witnessed this aftermath with Kryzsky on Tuesday night. A little weird, especially seeing the reaction of the driver and the body lying there on the road. My guess is the fellow was not in the crosswalk but darting between cars. Seen it a billion times at that intersection. If that is how it actually played out I lay no blame on the driver.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I don't get it. The pedestrian was approaching from the left and the driver didn't see him? Is he blind?

No, no, pedestrian was approaching from the right. My bad, sorry, I mis-typed that part. Your example was what I was trying to get at.

[eazyduzzit]

Originally Posted by 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.

Whats the fine for spitting on someones windshield?

No offense, but you seem like the type of person who just blaitently walks into the middle of the street without even looking. Reguardless of who has the right of way, it's just common sense to look both ways and make sure cars see you before you enter the street, after all, cars are bigger and roads are generally for vehicles.

Maybe one day you will get hit, and it will be the drivers fault, but IMO it was your own stupidity that caused it.

I always make sure cars see me before i walk into the street, and i always wait to see them slowering down or signal me to cross.

[Devils'Advocate]

I live along a fairly a major route in Ottawa and walk along this route to work every day. There are quite a number of T intersections along the way, so quite often there will be a string of cars lined up wanting to get out onto the main road. Almost every single day the crosswalk is blocked off. Sometimes people leave enough space for me to slip in behind. Often I am forced out into the traffic of a main thruway. I've toyed with the idea of making my own personal pedestrian bridge. But I think it would just be easier to walk over the car.

As for the squeegie folk, cold as this may seem, this is Darwinism. If you are going to try to make your living darting in and out of traffic where you DON'T have the right of way, you're asking to be hit. I feel just as bad for the driver as I do the family of the deceased.

[MatsNaslund]

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.

The $500 fine only applies if the pedestrian lawfully crosses the road. If they walk outside of the double white lines, cross during a red light and cross when the don't walk sign is on then they are technically jaywalking. They can get a ticket for that. Cars don't have to stop for jaywalkers. Secondly if a cyclist rides through a cross walk they are not a pedestrian so again cars don't have to stop. Again the $500 dollar doesn't apply. It does however if the cyclist gets off their bike and walks it accross.
Just as Cars have the Red, Green and Yellow lights to follow ...Pedestrians have to follow the walk and don't walk signs. If they start walking while the other side still has a green just before it changes to yellow and they get smoked by a car guess what? The car did nothing wrong and while buddy's guts may be all over 17 Ave the car will walk away with nothing in terms of charges and maybe some increased insurance and minor damage on their car.

cars have the right to clear the intersection on a yellow light if they entered (past the stop line) the intersection during green light regardless of whether they are going straight or turning. Yellow is there to allow them to clear the intersection. Anyone who has a learner's licence can tell you that.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by 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.

I am going to sneak up behind them with some body wash and a loofla...throw'em down and scrub 'em good...then ask for money...

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by MatsNaslund

The $500 fine only applies if the pedestrian lawfully crosses the road. If they walk outside of the double white lines, cross during a red light and cross when the don't walk sign is on then they are technically jaywalking. They can get a ticket for that. Cars don't have to stop for jaywalkers. Secondly if a cyclist rides through a cross walk they are not a pedestrian so again cars don't have to stop. Again the $500 dollar doesn't apply. It does however if the cyclist gets off their bike and walks it accross.
Just as Cars have the Red, Green and Yellow lights to follow ...Pedestrians have to follow the walk and don't walk signs. If they start walking while the other side still has a green just before it changes to yellow and they get smoked by a car guess what? The car did nothing wrong and while buddy's guts may be all over 17 Ave the car will walk away with nothing in terms of charges and maybe some increased insurance and minor damage on their car.

cars have the right to clear the intersection on a yellow light if they entered (past the stop line) the intersection during green light regardless of whether they are going straight or turning. Yellow is there to allow them to clear the intersection. Anyone who has a learner's licence can tell you that.

You can't hit people.

If someone jaywalks, crosses too early, walk on a "do not walk" sign, you cannot hit them and be free of clear of charges. The first rule is you have to stop for people, the second rule is then who can cross when. The only time you won't be at fault is if someone steps in front of your car (jaywalking etc.) and you have don't have enought time to stop. Just because you are driving down 17th ave and someone crosses at the wrong time you don't get a free GTA style hit.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by MatsNaslund

Cars don't have to stop for jaywalkers.

No, but people do.

I'm not sure of how it really works, but it would seem to me that if a person runs down a jaywalker and it appears they could have avoided doing so, it should be considered "undue care and attention" or something along those lines?

I certainly hope that running over a pedestrian who happens to stray outside the white lines is against the rules. Cars are pretty much always in those lines so it is often a necessity to go outside of them. It shouldn't be open-season on a person who does it.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Burninator

You can't hit people.

If someone jaywalks, crosses too early, walk on a "do not walk" sign, you cannot hit them and be free of clear of charges. The first rule is you have to stop for people, the second rule is then who can cross when. The only time you won't be at fault is if someone steps in front of your car (jaywalking etc.) and you have don't have enought time to stop. Just because you are driving down 17th ave and someone crosses at the wrong time you don't get a free GTA style hit.

Ahhhh....to funny.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

I am going to sneak up behind them with some body wash and a loofla...throw'em down and scrub 'em good...then ask for money...

Not even with your hands buddy.

If I had a high pressure hose and about 60 feet of clearance maybe.

[4X4]

In Rome, every other intersection has a gypsie with a squeegie... They are so pushy it is unbelievable. Lucky for me I'm a pretty big guy so they don't bother me much. Women don't have it so easy. Of course, women with gumption make for some pretty good intersection entertainment when they go haywire on a squeegie person for touching their car.

Stupidest thing about their mentalities (seems like here as well as calgary), is that they'll go for the nice shiny car assumably because they figure that that person will have money. What that person usually has is money... For a freakin car wash. Not for a shoddy half arsed window wiping.
Thanks but no thanks.



As for the guy who died and the safety of these people, I have no sympathy for people that wander in traffic annoying people. Get a job.


Oh, I'd like to add that I'm way more likely to put money in the hat of a guitar player than a sitting teenager with a cigarette.


And let me remind everyone what to say to people that ask you for change, you say "change comes from within".

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by 4X4

In Rome, every other intersection has a gypsie with a squeegie... They are so pushy it is unbelievable. Lucky for me I'm a pretty big guy so they don't bother me much. Women don't have it so easy. Of course, women with gumption make for some pretty good intersection entertainment when they go haywire on a squeegie person for touching their car.

Stupidest thing about their mentalities (seems like here as well as calgary), is that they'll go for the nice shiny car assumably because they figure that that person will have money. What that person usually has is money... For a freakin car wash. Not for a shoddy half arsed window wiping.
Thanks but no thanks.



As for the guy who died and the safety of these people, I have no sympathy for people that wander in traffic annoying people. Get a job.


Oh, I'd like to add that I'm way more likely to put money in the hat of a guitar player than a sitting teenager with a cigarette.


And let me remind everyone what to say to people that ask you for change, you say "change comes from within".

When people start approaching me for change or a smoke, I turn it around and ask them if they have change or a smoke before they can ask me. The responses are actually pretty comical.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

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

LOL. This made my day.

All I know is that there are a lot of bad drivers out there... so even if I have the right of way, you'd better believe I'm going to be careful when I cross the street.

Even if some guy hits me and he's 100% at fault, I'm still the one that ends up with a broken leg (or worse).

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by eazyduzzit

Whats the fine for spitting on someones windshield?

No offense, but you seem like the type of person who just blaitently walks into the middle of the street without even looking. Reguardless of who has the right of way, it's just common sense to look both ways and make sure cars see you before you enter the street, after all, cars are bigger and roads are generally for vehicles.

Maybe one day you will get hit, and it will be the drivers fault, but IMO it was your own stupidity that caused it.

I always make sure cars see me before i walk into the street, and i always wait to see them slowering down or signal me to cross.

Yeah, you're right. I guess I over reacted. The guy did almost kill me in marked crosswalk 'n all, but hey.....I'm the idiot....