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Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD's posts Post Back to profile
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lolonurse

@mbonsma
Pedestrians aren't the problem. Cars are... But - just like if you take a walk in the woods, it behooves you to be alert to the possibility of bears, if you walk in cities full of cars, trucks & buses, it is your responsibility to follow pedestrian protocols & laws that are meant to help you stay safe. Pedestrians can't get lost in thought or a podcast while crossing busy streets. Even bikes can run you down!

17 Oct 2023 at 14:05 | Wall-to-wall | Open on ohai.social
12 comments
Maier Amsden

@lolonurse @mbonsma Where I live, it's venomous snakes. Copperheads are notorious for standing their ground and striking quick.

17 Oct 2023 at 16:04 | Open on mastodon.social
lolonurse

@MaierAmsden @mbonsma
We also have copperheads (& rattlers) here, but thankfully, they are fairly reserved. (& seem to steer clear of large dogs). I'm glad I didn't know before about copperheads standing their ground! 😆😬

17 Oct 2023 at 20:44 | Open on ohai.social
Daniel Brotherston

@lolonurse @mbonsma

Cars are not bears...they're driven by people who should be responsible for operarting their vehicle safely.

17 Oct 2023 at 18:36 | Open on types.pl
lolonurse

@danbrotherston @mbonsma
Yes! Just as pedestrians should not cross against lights, jaywalk, walk out between cars without looking very carefully... There are laws regarding being a pedestrian, too, because some accidents are really the pedestrian's fault. I see people being cavalier all the time, accidents begging to happen. They walk into the street without looking up from their phones! Yikes!!

17 Oct 2023 at 20:49 | Open on ohai.social
Daniel Brotherston

@lolonurse @mbonsma

Yes, the laws are bad...and the infrastructure is also bad.

But you've decided to blame peds, so there's not a high chance I can convince you otherwise...but you should try visiting Europe and opening your eyes to what our world COULD look like.

18 Oct 2023 at 5:57 | Open on types.pl
lolonurse

@danbrotherston @mbonsma
I'm well aware of the wonderful pedestrians-only streets & pedestrian-friendly city/town areas.....there are even some in the US. I love the idea, & think it should be adopted in many more places. However, in areas where that's not the case, and people, cars, trucks, bikes and even streetcars all share the streets, I think that pedestrians must be alert, & not assume they are safe, because it's not a good assumption. This isn't about "blame".

18 Oct 2023 at 9:14 | Open on ohai.social
Daniel Brotherston

@lolonurse @mbonsma

First of all, you literally used the word "fault"...so seems like you do care about blame.

But to the main point, the OP used the word "SHOULD"...as in, it is an aspirational thing. So you seem to be arguing that you don't believe it should be the case that our roads are safe enough that distracted (or perhaps, for example, blind, pedestrians, or child pedestrians) can be safe on those streets, rather than that they aren't that now.

18 Oct 2023 at 11:04 | Open on types.pl
Daniel Brotherston

@lolonurse @mbonsma

As for whether there are places like that in the US...sure, there are some, like Disney Land, and Mackinaw Island, and other resorts. But in actual cities, in actual neighbourhoods where people actually live...basically none. Maybe parts of Montreal...

thecutstack.substack.com/p/the

18 Oct 2023 at 11:06 | Open on types.pl
lolonurse

@danbrotherston @mbonsma
They are starting. There are neighborhoods in Manhattan, the Bronx & Brooklyn that have closed off streets to cars (I think there are special passes if you live on that street). Since I no longer live in MA, CA, NM... I haven't followed their progress, but San Diego was pretty strongly on the side of cyclists during the decades we lived there, & pedestrians outside of the downtowns & parks were kind of sparse - ppl drove 2 blocks to a store. 😂

18 Oct 2023 at 13:40 | Open on ohai.social
lolonurse

@danbrotherston @mbonsma
Context matters- I said there are laws for being a pedestrian bc some accidents are pedestrians' fault. But my belief is that the laws regarding motor vehicles (like right turns on red lights) should be enforced. But that means either more traffic cops, or more cameras, both of which would be hard to obtain. Because $$$, & 👁️.

18 Oct 2023 at 13:31 | Open on ohai.social
😀🚲

@lolonurse @mbonsma "even bikes" 😂 yeah I just love breaking my teeth to plow into distracted pedestrians instead of twitching the handlebar slightly to go behind them as they carry on unaware. IMO the only responsibility pedestrians have in public space is to not suddenly reverse course 😆 kidding though, I fully expect people on foot to instantly step in any direction, or fall over for no reason, because that's what people do, and I operate my vehicle accordingly. #bikeTooter

17 Oct 2023 at 19:26 | Open on urbanists.social
lolonurse

@enobacon @mbonsma
Some cyclists, like you, ride intelligently & sensibly. Some, on the other hand, ride as if the streets are just for them. When I lived in Boston, I rode to work every day- fun & safe, sane people & cars. But riding in NYC and San Diego was like having a death wish - everyone in both cities seemed to have no regard for bicycles. Stay safe!

17 Oct 2023 at 20:55 | Open on ohai.social
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