Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges • Hacker News Board

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#61

Post by dazc » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:29 PM UTC

samwillis wrote: post #34

Here in the UK they have just changed the Highway Code (the rules that given all road users, including pedestrians) so that pedestrians have ultimate right of way in almost all cases. It’s the opposite of the situation in the US, a pedestrian in the UK can cross the road anywhere and I believe cars have to stop and make way. It’s going to be interesting to see how it effects accident numbers, I’m worry it may actuall…

In my experience, if you are in the road then, in the mind of the driver, you should not be there and there are various ways in which they will demonstrate this to you. Ranging from an angry face, at one end of the spectrum, to purposely accelerating towards you, at the other.

So, yes, I think you're right, casualties are more likely to increase since few drivers are going to be changing their behaviour any time soon.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#62

Post by aww_dang » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:29 PM UTC

bdauvergne wrote: post #56

aww_dang wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm all for cycling, but as a former bike messenger this take feels a bit extreme. The obesity crisis is real and people should get out and be more active. No matter how many concessions are made, most people are just unable to get over the lack of inertia and start cycling. Even if we allow for a hypothetical safety utopia, comments here will cite sweating as a deal breaker. I understand and empathize with beginners…

What exactly is the problem with sweating ? The rest of the world sweats without thinking about it.

Whatever problems may exist can be easily resolved by showering and changing clothes. They can be further minimized by dressing appropriately.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#63

Post by donkeyd » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:29 PM UTC

throwaway894345 wrote: post #14

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

I forget where this was, but I recall seeing video of police crossing on a crosswalk undercover and whenever a vehicle would fail to yield a cruiser would appear and pull the offender over. I would like to see a lot more of this. In Chicago, people have always blown red lights at speed right in front of parked police cars because they know police won’t do anything (and I’m not even sure if the police are allowed to d…

I recently saw a video of an awareness campaign by police at a crosswalk. Someone in a heart costume was trying to cross the road (at the crosswalk) and nobody stopped. When one car did end up stopping, it got rear ended by another car that didn't.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#64

Post by syshum » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:30 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #21

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

I actively resist putting sidewalks in my neighborhood, and actively bought into this neighborhood because it lacks them

Why? Because do not want to incur the costs of maintaining them, nor the liability that comes with them from either a city stand point, or injury standpoint

If sidewalks where maintained by the city, including snow removal, and repairs, then maybe. but the fact is in most location they are an imposition on the property owner that comes with large costs and liabilities.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#65

Post by pinephoneguy » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

Someone in Indiana honked at me for using a crosswalk yesterday thinking I was supposed to yield to them for some reason. I think people from rural areas and suburbs just aren’t used to driving in smaller streets.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#66

Post by Aeolun » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #21

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

> it would be nice if we had more sidewalks, but they are financially unsustainable

I call bullshit.

The smallest 50 people village in the Netherlands has sidewalks. It’s not that it’s unsustainable, it’s that nobody wants to pay for it. Or that americans build too friggin big.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#67

Post by goodpoint » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:31 PM UTC

efitz wrote: post #21

gameswithgo wrote: post #2

In Austin Texas we have an absurdly well marked crosswalk on the way to the elementary school, to a close approximation nobody has ever stopped to let us cross. Our daughter was nearly killed once, so far. It seems so many people in America are so fat now they don’t imagine people would ever walk, so they drive without regard for pedestrians and active hostility towards cyclists and park in the way of sidewalks, maki…

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

No. Distances are high because of low density. Sidewalks are financially unsustainable because of low density. People are obese also because they don't walk because of low density.

Low density is caused by car culture pushed by car manufacturers and oil companies.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#68

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:33 PM UTC

syshum wrote: post #64

efitz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

I actively resist putting sidewalks in my neighborhood, and actively bought into this neighborhood because it lacks them Why? Because do not want to incur the costs of maintaining them, nor the liability that comes with them from either a city stand point, or injury standpoint If sidewalks where maintained by the city, including snow removal, and repairs, then maybe. but the fact is in most location they are an impos…

[deleted]

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#69

Post by Semaphor » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:34 PM UTC

thex10 wrote: post #16

unicornfinder wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair I think the problem isn't just the people but how the roads and infrastructure is designed in the US. It's very anti-pedestrian.

To reconcile this with the parent comment... yes. Crosswalk markings, however bold and bright, alone are insufficient to make an intersection safe for pedestrians.

That is cultural. In Germany, crosswalks are very much adhered to.

Re: Pedestrian deaths spike in U.S. as reckless driving surges

#70

Post by syshum » Mon, Feb 14, 2022, 1:35 PM UTC

MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #27

efitz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly did you get to “the cause of reckless driving is fat people who don’t walk everywhere?” Show your work. In most places in America walking is not a practical mode of transportation because of distance; it’s miles from your house to the grocery store, for instance. If you live in a city this might not be obvious to you but half the country lives in the burbs or rural areas. Separately, it would be nice if w…

> Separately, it would be nice if we had more sidewalks, but they are financially unsustainable in low density areas. What makes sidewalks expensive to maintain, relative to roads? > the biggest issue by far is dietary sugar/carbohydrates This is not clear. See this highly fascinating series on the obesity epidemic: https://slimemoldtimemold.com/2021/07/07/a-chemical-hunger-p... . Other suspects are HFCS and seed oil…

There is more to it than just the direct cost of the concrete.

In most cities single family neighborhood sidewalks are "owned" by the property owner, not the city. However they are an "easement" which means the property owner has no control over the property, or ability to limit access to the property but assumes all costs in maintaining, and all liabilities for injury or other city ordinances (like snow removal, grass cutting, etc) basically all the downsides of ownership with none of the upside.

for some people this makes sidewalk undesirable