Discussions

With the warmer weather there may be more people out walking and enjoying the nice weather. I don’t know if that’s the reason but in the last day and a half I’ve seen three people nearly get hit by a car. At marked crosswalks.  
 
So drivers please take a second and be aware of your surroundings. If someone is stopped at a crosswalk it’s likely because someone is walking through....  
 
The first time was on 18th by bu. I was in the right lane and there was a car ahead of me that stopped for the pedestrian (who hit the lights). The car in the left just kept driving at 50km/h. If the pedestrian didn’t stop to look before crossing over the next half.. ?  
 
The next was a male and two kids at the crosswalk by giant tiger. The car was not stopping and the pedestrians were walking through as they have the right to. I had to honk my horn twice and the vehicle screeched to a halt at the last second...  
 
So drivers take a second and think. When someone is stopped in the road, it’s probably for a reason... And pedestrians make sure to be careful when walking! Even though the vehicle would be in the wrong you would be the one to suffer the consequences. Just saying. Be safe!  
 
Edited by blueyedbabe, 2018-04-21 10:33:01

Pedestrian had activated the overhead lights - I was in the left lane heading north on 34th St - I stopped well before the crosswalk but 2 SUV's sped past in the right lane - honked at the pedestrian to stop which they did - unfortunately I see this happening far too often.

I see a lot of people just stoping in the middle of rosser or princess to let people cross at any old intersection that is not marked. Any chance we want to point out how dangerous this is and should we request pedestrians to be more careful? Or how about the amount of people on rosser and princess that will make turn over 2 lanes. Like not from the curb lane. Should we ask them to be more careful to? There are lots of things both drivers and pedestrians do that are unsafe perhaps we should just call everyone out.

This is a quote from the MB drivers handbook.... all intersections that have sidewalks are crosswalks no matter if they are marked or not. All vehicles have to yield to pedestrians. I believe there are sidewalks all down both Rosser and Princess. Of course pedestrians still need to be cautious.  
 
Crosswalks  
Pedestrians have the right-of-way at both marked and unmarked crosswalks.  
Unmarked crosswalks — These are extensions of sidewalks across a road  
at an intersection. No markings or signs are required. However, precaution  
should be taken at all times.  
Marked crosswalks — These i:nclude crosswalks at intersections controlled  
by traffic lights, school crosswalks and pedestrian crosswalks.  
As a driver  
You must stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are crossing the  
roadway, unless they’re on the opposite side of a divided highway separated  
by a median. A double solid line is not a physical separation.  
• It’s illegal to pass traffic ahead of you that is slowing down or stopped for  
pedestrians.  
• Proceed only when the pedestrians have safely crossed the street  
or have safely reached the median of a divided roadway.  
• No parking or stopping is allowed within three metres of a crosswalk.  
• All pedestrians have the right to use school crosswalks.

Where a driver had a green light by the Aberdeen / shoppers mall but stopped for a pedestrian to cross the street on a red light & this pedestrian walked across anyways....needless to say I almost hit the damn person who stopped for that pedestrian that should not have walked on a red light in the first place...he was lucky that no other vehicle was coming otherwise he would of been hit for sure....this idiot that stopped on a green light was from Saskatchewan by the way.

I do not stop at every single intersection for pedestrians, unless it is a marked with signage or a lighted crosswalk. Which is a marked crosswalk.  
 
If it's a regular intersection I continue to drive and pedestrian can wait. For example, rosser and 20th st. If I'm going west on rosser and pedestrian is waiting on the corner of 20th and crossing south. I will not stop for them. 98% of people will not stop, including cops.

Thank you for posting this. Yesterday at about 8:30 at night we were crossing at a marked crosswalk on 18th right next to the dollar store. The suv that was in the right hand lane was clearly not slowing down so I basically had to finish running across the street. As the vehicle came closer I noticed the driver was a middle aged man that had the nerve to flip me the bird. I was really taken back by it. We just moved to the area and after that episode there is no way I want my kids going near that street. There really should be a flashing pedestrian light at that crossing. Kind of like the one near the university. It was a very scary situation.

Getty said "I do not stop at every single intersection for pedestrians, unless it is a marked with signage or a lighted crosswalk. Which is a marked crosswalk.     If it's a regular intersection I continue to drive and pedestrian can wait. For example, rosser and 20th st. If I'm going west on rosser and pedestrian is waiting on the corner of 20th and crossing south. I will not stop for them. 98% of people will not stop, including cops. "

so you are asking people not to obey the law?  
 
 
if the pedestrian has indicated that they are going to cross the road please stop for them  
 
as a driver if someone is stopped at an intersection please, slow down, watch for pedestrians and be prepared to stop if there is one.BTW legally you can not pass in an intersection at all but You can usually tell by the way the car is positioned if they intend to turn at the intersection or are stopping for some other reason, like a pedestrian, as a driver it is your job to make sure it is safe to proceed!

That is a dangerous place for pedestrians. MIT is largely to blame for it too.  
 
It is currently single lane over the Daly bridge. Traffic can line up for blocks in the west lane, often before Lorne. So, traffic in the right lane is going along at the speed limit, zipping past all of the traffic that is stopped because of congestion. All of a sudden, a pedestrian steps out at the crosswalk from behind the stopped traffic. Bam! How many close calls have their been because of this?  
 
If MIT would extend the length of the lights past Princess and Rosser on 18th, it would greatly reduce the backlog of traffic. Especially at Rosser when it is very common for cross traffic to be done long before the light changes. Simple solution, but it seems that it is beyond MIT's comprehension, or willingness to do something about it. Instead, they put up ineffective merge signs.

I enjoy getting out to walk whenever where I am going is withing walking distance and man it is getting bad to be a pedestrian. The cross walk at 18th and college.. my kids and I have almost been taken out several times. People it is illegal to pass a car that is stopped for a pedestrian! I see it daily where one lane stops and the second lane people just fly past the car that is stopped. People really need to watch! The last time it happened the person that went through and almost took out my stroller had her phone right to her face.  
And to the comment above about the rosser and 20th comment.. I have never had a cop car not stop for me. I try to walk often and cop cars always always stop for me.  
I drive a lot too so I understand it is annoying to stop when you have somewhere to be but everyone seriously need to be both courteous and cautious.  
Man this topic comes up often! Lol people in this town really do not want to stop!

I walk everywhere as I don't have a car. I rarely bother with the bus except on the coldest winter days or I'm with the kids.  
 
I treat Every single intersection almost like a no man's land in a war zone lol. I assume every single driver is texting, drunk, or oblivious for some reason. I do a 360 scan of ALL cars and their intent. If a car looks like they're slowing down for me I wait for them to completely stop. I check to make sure EVERY lane is safe to cross after them.I never try to get cars to stop for me at an unmarked crossing. It's just safer to wait.  
 
Sorry. I'm not a paranoid person generally. I just don't trust drivers. I have kids and family counting on me to be here for a few years yet. I enjoy walking and don't want to stop. It's good exercise as I get older. So I treat crossing the street as something that must be approached with a lot of caution. I still survive. lol

traveller said "    Getty said "I do not stop at every single intersection for pedestrians, unless it is a marked with signage or a lighted crosswalk. Which is a marked crosswalk.     If it's a regular intersection I continue to drive and pedestrian can wait. For example, rosser and 20th st. If I'm going west on rosser and pedestrian is waiting on the corner of 20th and crossing south. I will not stop for them. 98% of people will not stop, including cops. " so you are asking people not to obey the law?       if the pedestrian has indicated that they are going to cross the road please stop for them     as a driver if someone is stopped at an intersection please, slow down, watch for pedestrians and be prepared to stop if there is one.BTW legally you can not pass in an intersection at all but You can usually tell by the way the car is positioned if they intend to turn at the intersection or are stopping for some other reason, like a pedestrian, as a driver it is your job to make sure it is safe to proceed! "

if the pedestrian is crossing or about to cross, it's obvious to stop for them.  
 
However, if their waiting on the corner (of a non marked intersection) and there is traffic flow. The pedestrian needs to look both ways before they cross. I will not stop for them.

Chasydj said "Thank you for posting this. Yesterday at about 8:30 at night we were crossing at a marked crosswalk on 18th right next to the dollar store. The suv that was in the right hand lane was clearly not slowing down so I basically had to finish running across the street. As the vehicle came closer I noticed the driver was a middle aged man that had the nerve to flip me the bird. I was really taken back by it. We just moved to the area and after that episode there is no way I want my kids going near that street. There really should be a flashing pedestrian light at that crossing. Kind of like the one near the university. It was a very scary situation. "

Certainly that was rude of him. Is it possible never saw the intersection was in use or came up to it too fast not knowing it was in use?  
 
H was asleep at the wheel for sure but I have seen a car on the one side come to a stop far too quick for the other side to react and then blast through not able to stop. I also found just because one car stops does not make the whole crosswalk safe or yours.Especially that middle lane that hides pedestrians. Eye contact with the driver is a must before one crosses.. That driver though was probably miffed at himself as much.

I am still an advocate for low cost LED flashers that could alert driver's to when you are in the cross walk.  
 
I think/know that there is a lack of heads up at some of these cross-walks.  
 
The overhead lights sometimes get drowned out by the sun. Or driver's don't look up on 18th.  
 
Street level LEDs powered by solar are the way to go, but I'm sure this will be negated by some.

PiEyedSquire said "I am still an advocate for low cost LED flashers that could alert driver's to when you are in the cross walk.     I think/know that there is a lack of heads up at some of these cross-walks.     The overhead lights sometimes get drowned out by the sun. Or driver's don't look up on 18th.     Street level LEDs powered by solar are the way to go, but I'm sure this will be negated by some. "

I've seen these in Florida between Clearwater and St. Petersburg. They are hard to miss when activated! Add to this that they had them every block or two at designated crosswalks. A very good idea and they should be at every major cross walk here in Manitoba.

Getty said "    traveller said "    Getty said "I do not stop at every single intersection for pedestrians, unless it is a marked with signage or a lighted crosswalk. Which is a marked crosswalk.     If it's a regular intersection I continue to drive and pedestrian can wait. For example, rosser and 20th st. If I'm going west on rosser and pedestrian is waiting on the corner of 20th and crossing south. I will not stop for them. 98% of people will not stop, including cops. " so you are asking people not to obey the law?       if the pedestrian has indicated that they are going to cross the road please stop for them     as a driver if someone is stopped at an intersection please, slow down, watch for pedestrians and be prepared to stop if there is one.BTW legally you can not pass in an intersection at all but You can usually tell by the way the car is positioned if they intend to turn at the intersection or are stopping for some other reason, like a pedestrian, as a driver it is your job to make sure it is safe to proceed! " if the pedestrian is crossing or about to cross, it's obvious to stop for them.     However, if their waiting on the corner (of a non marked intersection) and there is traffic flow. The pedestrian needs to look both ways before they cross. I will not stop for them. "

well since the law actually says the pedestrian has to indicate they are about to cross (there is an actual signal for this) or be on the road to stop then you are correct in continuing, with caution of course, if the pedestrian looks like they are waiting for a break in traffic .  
 
Many new drivers end up failing their road test because they stop when the restrained hasnt shown an intent to cross because the tester views it as stopping in the flow of traffic for NO reason, this a hazard and a dangerous action which equals an auto fail, im not sure i agree with it but as we all know no one drivers to pass the test  
 
As a pedestrian tho Im with miller and am very cautious for ALL lanes

A bunch of pedestrians hanging out at 34th and Richmond traffic circle. I don't know whether they are crossing or just visiting. They are standing right at the entrance to the crosswalk so it's anyone's guess.  
Pedestrians SHOULD make some effort to indicate to drivers what their intentions are. Just a courtesy.

EVERYONE pay attention. Particularly those in control of a ton or so of moving metal, but also those on foot. They SHOULD stop. But distractions happen.  
 
It's why I maintain a no phone rule when crossing any roadway. Call it a lesson learned from once running smack dab into a door frame in high school lol.

Also worth noting is that it is now Moped/motorcycle/biking season. Keep your eyes peeled.

People on Bikes crossing streets while riding on Bike Path....I don't think they realize they have a Stop Sign at all crossings....a teen on a bike almost hit me and was mad at me for not stopping, said nope You have the Stop Sign...He looked up at sign, never said a word...  
If you are on a bike and crossing, i won't stop, if you are walking your bike then you are a pedestrian...then I will stop..

The left hand lane is where I find people fail to stop. Crossing 18th the other evening, the car in the right hand lane stopped, but the left hand lane going south didn't see me; they sailed through the crosswalk. I am glad I did not quickly cross because I would have been hit hard.  
 
I think it's because they don't see the pedestrian or cyclist entering the cross-walk. I think it would be good to have some way of notifying both lanes, but the only way is to have some sort of notification means (flashers). I am now carrying them on me, but they are 30% of the solution.  
 
Cross 0ver-walks or over-ways like they have in Calgary are good, but expensive. The university would do good to invest in some sort of overwalk structure to ferry students etc., but that would not solve it for wheelchairs and cyclists.  
 
We could bore a tunnel under 18th street. Yes, that's it. Time to call The Boring Company (Elon Musk).