Pedestrians, please look when you cross the road

[malumbu]

To get some balance with the rage against cyclists, and a smaller number of threadson bad driving, someone walked out in front of me tonight looking at their phone.  They were not wearing bright clothing as well.  Being an excellent rider I stopped immediately.  They were totally oblivious and did not respond to me whatsoever.

When I worked in town this was a fairly frequent event, firstly on Fleet Street in the early 00s.  I'd never worked so close to a major shopping street so this was new to me, and this was mainly shoppers.

Subsequently this moved to people texting or on their i-pods.  And in the last 15 years  pedestrians crossing their roads looking at their phones - and chaos on the pavements as they suddenly stop unexpectedly or do a u turn without looking.

I've made semi-facetious comments before that there should be a walking test for adults before they are allowed on their own on pavements, with stopping lights and rear view mirror too.  I'm unaware how far schools go in teaching safe walking, I'm from the Green Cross Code generation.

I wouldn't find it so bad if they acknowledged their mistake, thanking me and/or apologising.  But they don't.  Funnily enough so many people apologise when I stop at Zebra crossings, or give way to those about to cross at a junction.  As a nation we often apologise for things that are not our fault.  I friendly tell people in this situation that they have priority and I am very happy to give way.

Not that I would use this forum as a soapbox of course......   That's self deprecation

[Rockets]

1 hour ago, malumbu said:

Funnily enough so many people apologise when I stop at Zebra crossings, or give way to those about to cross at a junction.

Maybe that's because folks like you and I who actually stop are by far the exception rather than the rule....sorry, couldn't resist! 😉