Oh, its only a motorbike...

[Moulder]

This seems to be a fairly recent phenonmenon that I am experiencing when I am out. Its not the smallest bike so I don't think that it is that people fancy their chances in a collision. Few examples from the weekend...

I am riding down the road and indicating to turn right, woman walking along the pavement looks over her left shoulder, sees me, and then steps out anyway assuming I will stop or magically guess which side of her I am supposed to go...

On a dual carriageway a pedestrian will cross to the white line running down the middle of the two lanes and then shuffle about in some sort of unintentional game of chicken waiting to see which side I choose before carrying on..

Similar to the above seems to be happening almost every time I am out...

I have checked my reflection in a shop window and I can see me. The only possibilities I can see are, stupidity, mass suicide, or standing up to something they think as antisocial by deliberately being obstructive.

So the agony aunt style final question... Is this normal?

[The T Boy]

Moulder said:

I am riding down the road and indicating to turn right, woman walking along the pavement looks over her left shoulder, sees me, and then steps out anyway assuming I will stop or magically guess which side of her I am supposed to go...

If you were turning from into a minor road and the woman was already crossing that road then she had right of way so you are right - she probably was assuming you would stop.

[Moulder]

The T Boy said:

If you were turning from into a minor road and the woman was already crossing that road then she had right of way so you are right - she probably was assuming you would stop.

I think already crossing in her mind, realistically a good 3 or 4 steps from stepping off the pavement.

Interesting though, I am no Highway Code anorak but thought I knew most of it and didn't realise that she would have right of way if she had already gotten a foot in the road.

[The T Boy]

Moulder said:

The T Boy said:

If you were turning from into a minor road and the woman was already crossing that road then she had right of way so you are right - she probably was assuming you would stop.

I think already crossing in her mind, realistically a good 3 or 4 steps from stepping off the pavement.

Interesting though, I am no Highway Code anorak but thought I knew most of it and didn't realise that she would have right of way if she had already gotten a foot in the road.

It's ok - experience suggests that very few drivers know it.

Nice backtrack btw.

[Chilli]

Hang on....So some pedes, peres,pedder....Someone walking accross the road has the right of way over a vehicle...because they're already on the road? I knew this was the case for crossings etc....but a normal road junction? (or did O read the original post incorrectly?)

[The T Boy]

Chilli said:

Hang on....So some pedes, peres,pedder....Someone walking accross the road has the right of way over a vehicle...because they're already on the road? I knew this was the case for crossings etc....but a normal road junction? (or did O read the original post incorrectly?)

If a pedestrian is already established in a road that you have not yet entered then they have right of way. That's why you have to be careful when turning left into side roads as anyone crossing in the same direction as you were travelling on the main road won't have seen you and will have right of way.

It's in the Highway Code somewhere. Probably.

ETA: Linky

Here it is http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Hig...

Edited by The T Boy on Monday 16th June 17:07

[Adam_W]

they should check the coast is clear before entering the roadway though, stepping blindly into a road is not clever, likely to get mowed down by a 4x4 round here

Edited by Adam_W on Monday 16th June 17:11

[Moulder]

The T Boy said:

It's ok - experience suggests that very few drivers know it.

Nice backtrack btw.

Guess that would mean that very few pedestrians know it as well and are just taking a speculative punt that I will be responsible for their well being as well.

Still, nice to hear that the bloke on the dual carriageway is fair game...

[RizzoTheRat]

I got hit by 125 when crossing the road years ago, he pulled out of a side turn as I was part way across and we both had the dilemma of which way to go, and unfortunatly both went the same way. Was glad I was carying one of those really strong Samsonite brief cases, got knocked over but not hurt, and he came off and broke his clutch lever

[phillvr6]

I think pedestrians have right of way on all roads other than motorways.

[Rubin215]

Yep, have to agree many pedestrians pay little heed to bikes.

Filtering last month and came into conflict with a woman who was crossing the road while chatting on the mobile .
I saw her in plenty of time as I filtered past the line of stationary cars she had just stepped into so gave an early toot of the horn.
However, she was looking away from me (crossing from my left) for vehicles coming the opposite direction and, with phone to ear, was obviously incapable of hearing the surrounding traffic.
I came to a gentle halt alongside her just as she stepped out from between two cars and gave it a nice big handful.

To say she jumped is an understatement.

However, what really cracked me up was when she lowered the phone for a brief moment to bellow "Why don't you look where you're f'ing going?"

Sorry dear; if I hadn't been looking where I was going I would have put you and your mobile in the Royal Infirmary...

[sprinter885]

Nice lttle tale that
Sounds like she was a "what-everrrr" type?

[Sossige]

Should have chucked her a copy of the highway code with the following highlighted:

Highwaycode said:

C. Look all around for traffic and listen. Traffic could come from any direction. Listen as well, because you can sometimes hear traffic before you see it.

D. If traffic is coming, let it pass. Look all around again and listen. Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time. Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.

It doesn't say "listen to your mobile phone and step out whenever you feel like it". Attitude like that gets on my wick - road safety is a responsibility for all road users including pedestrians.

S