Accident in front of Melrose

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Pedestrians in Calgary are more brave (to put it politely) than any other city I've driven in. I've seen many people step into traffic and stare down the on coming traffic. It's crazy.

Must be our culture of politeness or something. I'll second that. Pedestrians in Australia don't seem to have the same rights pedestrians do here, unless your right downtown (in the city) then everyone jaywalks. Still you don't see them hold up traffic much. Jaywalk anywhere else, and your fair game!

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Really Bobble? I've been in other cities that make Calgary pedestrians look like pansies...

Most of my driving experience was in Ont (for a few years I was putting 40K a year on vehicles), but in Calgary I've seen way more people just get to a corner and start walking without even looking.

Downtown, I'll grant you; in other cities it is a battle of will between pedestrians and traffic. Usually because the gridlock slows traffic so much that pedestrians get used to dodging slow moving cars.

But outside of downtown, or even in mall parking lots, it seems oncoming traffic is barely a second thought to Calgary pedestrians.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Of course a driver never has the right to hit someone. But what it does mean is that if a driver did hit someone that was jaywalking, it's not an automatic charge to the driver just because he did hit that person - circumstances of the accident now matter.

I think the only circumstances that would matter would be if the driver was able to stop in time. ie. if the person stepped out from behind a parked car.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by fotze

I've seen people walk into traffic and NOT STARE DOWN the car, just totally ignore the car. That's when I would like a car horn that sounds like a car that is slamming on its breaks from 80 kmh. Anyone know if you can get a horn like that?

Or how about a horn that sounds like a train?

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Most of my driving experience was in Ont (for a few years I was putting 40K a year on vehicles), but in Calgary I've seen way more people just get to a corner and start walking without even looking.

Downtown, I'll grant you; in other cities it is a battle of will between pedestrians and traffic. Usually because the gridlock slows traffic so much that pedestrians get used to dodging slow moving cars.

But outside of downtown, or even in mall parking lots, it seems oncoming traffic is barely a second thought to Calgary pedestrians.

Fair enough re: Ontario as its been a long long time ago since I was there.

That said, I have lived in BC, Alberta and the Maritimes, and have spent some time in Que visiting. All 3 places make us look like pansies, although I find in the maritimes I find there are a lot more people who just keep on driving (even when they should technically stop).

[Agamemnon]

In Washington D.C. there are signs everywhere reminding drivers to yield to pedestrians; they just don't do it there. I was literally nearly hit by a car twice, in a crosswalk, with my hand out towards the car in a 'stop don't hit me' fashion. They swerved around me and cursed me... in a crosswalk with the right of way. Pedestrians do seem to have more rights up here then down there.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Fair enough re: Ontario as its been a long long time ago since I was there.

That said, I have lived in BC, Alberta and the Maritimes, and have spent some time in Que visiting. All 3 places make us look like pansies, although I find in the maritimes I find there are a lot more people who just keep on driving (even when they should technically stop).

Other places (I've done a bit in Van, Wpg, Mtl, a bit of travelling in California, most places in Ont) and those places the pedestrians take their chances but they are also looking for the cars and seem to realize that in a car v person, the person always loses. In Calgary there doesn't seem to be that same recognition. It is more like pedestrians here believe they have the right of way and start walking, screw the consequences.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Other places (I've done a bit in Van, Wpg, Mtl, a bit of travelling in California, most places in Ont) and those places the pedestrians take their chances but they are also looking for the cars and seem to realize that in a car v person, the person always loses. In Calgary there doesn't seem to be that same recognition. It is more like pedestrians here believe they have the right of way and start walking, screw the consequences.

You're lying. There are no pedestrians in California.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Shazam

This is not actually true. Jaywalkers do not have the right of way. Also, pedestrians only have the right of way at marked crosswalks. People aren't even supposed to cross at unmarked intersections, for good reason.

If pedestrians always had the right of way, people would be flinging themselves onto the street, hoping to win the auto-lotto (okay, maybe not)

Sorry, but you are mistaken. Pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections whether they are marked or unmarked.

Straight out of the Driver Training Guide provided by Alberta Transportation.

http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/INFT.../dhpage122.htm

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Sorry, but you are mistaken. Pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections whether they are marked or unmarked.

Straight out of the Driver Training Guide provided by Alberta Transportation.

http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/INFT.../dhpage122.htm

I said unmarked intersection, not unmarked crosswalk. They are not the same thing.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

In Washington D.C. there are signs everywhere reminding drivers to yield to pedestrians; they just don't do it there. I was literally nearly hit by a car twice, in a crosswalk, with my hand out towards the car in a 'stop don't hit me' fashion. They swerved around me and cursed me... in a crosswalk with the right of way. Pedestrians do seem to have more rights up here then down there.

Were you wearing a tie-dye shirt and round sunglasses? Remember, you're in DC...

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I said unmarked intersection, not unmarked crosswalk. They are not the same thing.

How can an intersection be unmarked? Are the roadways invisible to each other at the point of intersection?

Any point where two roadways intersect is considered a crosswalk if a pedestrian has arrived first and has made their intention to cross known to drivers by either a) stepping off the curb or b) extended their arm at approximate right angle towards the corner they wish to cross onto.

An intersection is always a crosswalk but a crosswalk is not always an intersection.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Reaper

How can an intersection be unmarked? Are the roadways invisible to each other at the point of intersection?

Any point where two roadways intersect is considered a crosswalk if a pedestrian has arrived first and has made their intention to cross known to drivers by either a) stepping off the curb or b) extended their arm at approximate right angle towards the corner they wish to cross onto.

An intersection is always a crosswalk but a crosswalk is not always an intersection.

Exactly. Otherwise you could never leave your own block in a residential area without getting in your car.

[MaDMaN_26]

In case there was doubt I just used google earth to look at the only T-intersection near Melrose 7st and 17th ave and there is no crosswalk there. in other intersections you can clearly see crosswalks, but that one has none and would force a pedestrian to walk a bit west or east to cross legally...

I still have a feeling the driver was distracted and going to fast, but if the girls crossed at that T-intersection they were definately J-walking.

[Julio]

That corner is always one I hate driving down 17th Ave. There are posts with chains sling between them at both corners on the north side of the street, to show people that they shouldn't cross there. Instead, people regularly go around them and illegally cross the street.

[corporatejay]

pedestrians have the right of way at intersections (that's why you can cross at hte corner) but if a pedestrian jaywalks and a car doesn't see them and is following all other laws then it's "not theri fault"

conversely if the same situation happens but they cross at a corner, the driver is at fault for not yielding to a pedestrian no matter how ridiculous they are.

I hope these girls are okay.

[MaDMaN_26]

Originally Posted by fotze

I've seen people walk into traffic and NOT STARE DOWN the car, just totally ignore the car. That's when I would like a car horn that sounds like a car that is slamming on its breaks from 80 kmh. Anyone know if you can get a horn like that?

Ask and you shall receive... lol

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/13/c...th-hornstones/

Let me know how it works!!

[jar_e]

I'm not sure if anyone caught global news at 11pm last night but they had an interview with the duty inspector saying that even though their may not be a "marked" crosswalk at that intersection, it is still technically a crosswalk since it's at an intersection. I know Reaper already gave a link for it, but I thought I'd throw in what I heard on the news...

[corporatejay]

anything that is from a corner is a valid crosswalk as far as I understand it. jaywalking only occurs when you cross in the middle of the street.

[Bobblehead]

Didn't they jack the fines up for failure to yeild to a pedestrian in the last couple years?