[sdiy] OT: Was-> Tip of the Day: Resource Development -> pedestrians

[Ryan Guilfoyle]

  As a Cyclist on Long Island (Read Rich people live
here and it's all suburbs) I get to see many abuses of
pedestrian/auto laws. Not less than 24 hours ago I was
coming up to an intersection, with proper right of way
(sign says walk, im on the crosswalk) taking proper
precautions, i.e. LOOKING for an auto behind me
turning into the intersection I'm about to cross
without signaling. I see an auto on its merry way down
the road, without it's signal on. Make eye contact
with driver... he then gives me the finger while
making his turn directly in fron of my path and
procedes to (since he's more worried about me slowing
up his BMW than my actual rights as a pedestrian, or
my safety) crashes into the car at the crosswalk
waiting for it's green...
All things said, the driver of the 745 gets out of his
auto after crashing into another vehicle and WALKS
across oncoming traffic to try and assualt me
physically... 
Luckily for me I was not hit by the auto, or the
driver (with a fist) but the driver of the BMW now
faces a prety serious bill for the auto damages he
incurred, and also luckilly for me the third car in
the traffic cue (s.p. ?) happend to be one of New
Yorks finest, who aressted him promptly for his
reckless driving, abuse of right of way laws, and
nearly assaulting a pedestrian... Turns out the driver
of the 745 was late to pick up his children, when
asked (by the arresting officer) what his rush was it
turns out he was going to a local spot where kids ride
there BMX bikes to pick up his child...
The arresting officer thought this was hilarious as I
also ride a BMX bike, and drove me sirens on to my
destination after filing the accident paperwork...

I digress... in NY the law states if a ped is not
jaywalking HE/SHE ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY! and if
there is no crosswalk signal you have to wait for all
peds to cross PERIOD wether the light is RED, GREEN,
YELLOW OR POLKA DOT! 

P.S. I use hand signals (remember those?) and ride off
the sidewalk where there is heavy foot traffic, just
to make sure I'm not taking any risks with ANYONE'S
saftey or property, and I always obey the rest of the
rules of the road that drvers seem to forget...

Ryan (from the home of crazy drivers, HEAVY TRAFFIC,
bicycle messengers, people in wheelchairs, old folks
who cant walk very rapidly, blind people with guide
dogs and all the other types of pedestrians  e.t.c.)



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