Panhandlers / Squeegee Kids

[V]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Or for the driver to take responsibility for their actions, and pay attention....

Crusader's point, I think, is that in the end there isn't much consolation in the fact that it's the driver's fault, if you're dead.

Yes, the drivers should watch where they're going, obviously. But pedestrians should always be on the lookout for the dumbass's that aren't paying attention.

Being in the right doesn't mean much if you're dead.

[edn88]

We live in such a world where everything is done to keep people from hurting themselves in spite of themselves. Warnings on coffee cups etc.

The world is a dangerous place - don't take your own personal safety for granted EVER. Be vigilant, assume the worst case will happen, not the best case.

I think it has been said a few times now - if you are a driver - focus on driving (not the cell phone, not the kids in the back seat). If you are a pedestrian - minimize your exposure to danger - cross at marked cross walks, make eye contact with drivers etc.

[edn88]

Oh yeah - and I feel bad for both the squeegie kid and worse for the driver of the car, but squeegie kids - there is more than enough work in this city that does not require you to be out in traffic ****ing off drivers. You might have to conform to society a bit and stop using drugs, but that is life.

[4X4]

Well, I'm not sure if this thread is about bad driving or mooching money, but shortly after I posted about my willingness to give money to people who play an instrument on the street, the opportunity arose.

Five guys, dressed in santa suits, walked down the street playing christmas songs.
For the record, Rome is basically all 5 story apartment buildings, so there was a decent audience. People were tossing coins down to them and they slowly made their way down the street.

I thought that was pretty cool actually. A trumpet, a trombone, a drummer (with a snare and another drum) and a guy with a red sack just running around picking up all the coins.
Pretty neat. They took their sweet time making their way down the street. It was about 15 minutes before they were out of earshot. Worth a euro for me...€

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken

Crusader's point, I think, is that in the end there isn't much consolation in the fact that it's the driver's fault, if you're dead.

Yes, the drivers should watch where they're going, obviously. But pedestrians should always be on the lookout for the dumbass's that aren't paying attention.

Being in the right doesn't mean much if you're dead.

Yeah, I know that was his general point. The problem is, however, is that cars are going to keep going through, because, well they can - i.e. they are bigger and will almost make a Tron-pancake of someone trying to cross. To me it seemed to imply that Crusader was basically putting the responsibility on the pedestrian...and not much on the car driver. Yes car can squish person like bug. But if person is obeying the rules/being reasonable, then car must stop/slow down no matter if it can squish like bug. I.e. in the end, the driver is just as responsible as the pedestrian...doesn't matter if the car weights 1000 kg and the person 100.

[V]

Well, all I know is when I cross a road downtown I almost fake crossing, just before crossing to see if the driver notices me. There's no way I'm just going to cross an intersection just because I can. Walking around downtown like you have all the rights in the world will eventually catch up to you, even if you do nothing wrong.

Yeah, all the responsibility is with the driver. But that doesn't help me if I'm dead.

[Yellefan]

I walk from bridgeland to the Nexen building and back every single day and almost daily I have to wait or jump back as cars just make their turns without looking. It gets tiring, and frustrating but there's no way I'm taking my chances with a car... I know I'm in the right, but like someone else said earlier it doesn't matter if I'm dead. I just make sure I always look twice and if a car doesn't look like it's going to stop, it probably wont. The worse is the folks who get stuck in the middle of the intersection when the light turns red... doesn't matter if I'm right in front of them half the time, they want to get through ASAP.

I moved here from the burbs thinking it would be great to be able to walk to work every day... with all of the stupid drivers on the road I'm thinking I might have to move back out because I'm scared of walking some days!

[Flames_Gimp]

so many times a driver turning right, would only watch his left and the just start turning... i always wait til the person sees me...and drivers do that ALL the time.

but hey, whats the worst that could happen, I end up in a wheelchair? lol

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

but hey, whats the worst that could happen, I end up in a wheelchair? lol

Okay, we get it...