Comments on: Smackdown: Is the pedestrian king of the road in the city? http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/ Sat, 18 May 2013 11:57:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: anatman29 http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-206453 anatman29 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:27:24 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-206453 Toronto and other large cities with comprehensive rapid transit systems, narrow core area streets, limited parking and high automobile and pedestrian volume need to look at reducing single-occupant vehicle useage in the core. The only way to regulate jay-walking pedestrians is to mandate the implant of ID chips so they can be fined or arrested when they pass by a scanner, which will also take their picture. Ideas like these are about to be implemented in wealthy countries including Canada, and there might even be some more of the preliminary legislation already in this latest omnibus bill before Parliament (there was in the last one). Toronto and other large cities with comprehensive rapid transit systems, narrow core area streets, limited parking and high automobile and pedestrian volume need to look at reducing single-occupant vehicle useage in the core. The only way to regulate jay-walking pedestrians is to mandate the implant of ID chips so they can be fined or arrested when they pass by a scanner, which will also take their picture. Ideas like these are about to be implemented in wealthy countries including Canada, and there might even be some more of the preliminary legislation already in this latest omnibus bill before Parliament (there was in the last one).

]]> By: rights wrong http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-204748 rights wrong Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:21:06 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-204748 I agree that pedestrians have rights and drivers should respect those rights and be careful around them. I also believe that with rights come responsibilities. When you look at traffic being backed up all over the city, one of the root causes is pedestrians blocking cars from making turns. I don't mean those crossing during the walk light cycle. I'm talking about the ones that step off the curb and stroll across the street when the walk light has turned to red, leaving one of the ten cars trying to make a turn the opportunity to complete their turn on a red, IF, the pedestrians haven't started crossing the other street in the intersection. Then there's the bicycles riding on the sidewalk on the wrong side of the street that just dart into the intersection without looking to see if there is a car trying to maneuver the obstacle course that is Toronto. I agree that pedestrians have rights and drivers should respect those rights and be careful around them. I also believe that with rights come responsibilities. When you look at traffic being backed up all over the city, one of the root causes is pedestrians blocking cars from making turns. I don’t mean those crossing during the walk light cycle. I’m talking about the ones that step off the curb and stroll across the street when the walk light has turned to red, leaving one of the ten cars trying to make a turn the opportunity to
complete their turn on a red, IF, the pedestrians haven’t started crossing the other street in the intersection. Then there’s the bicycles riding on the sidewalk on the wrong side of the street that just dart into the intersection without looking to see if there is a car trying to maneuver the obstacle course that is Toronto.

]]> By: LaryOly http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-199258 LaryOly Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:46:34 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-199258 This debate reminds me of "Motor Mania", the 1950 Disney road-safety cartoon that I had to watch in drivers' ed, many years ago. In it, we see Mr. Walker (a pedestrian) and Mr. Wheeler (a driver). Actually, they're the same character, in a Jekyll-and-Hyde way. Mr. Walker is mild-mannered and considerate...until he gets behind the wheel. Then, he turns into the snarling beast, Mr. Wheeler, who believes he has a god-given right to do what he likes, when he likes, and god help any other vehicles or pedestrians that get in his way! The cartoon is on YouTube, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZAZ_xu0DCg This debate reminds me of “Motor Mania”, the 1950 Disney road-safety cartoon that I had to watch in drivers’ ed, many years ago. In it, we see Mr. Walker (a pedestrian) and Mr. Wheeler (a driver). Actually, they’re the same character, in a Jekyll-and-Hyde way.

Mr. Walker is mild-mannered and considerate…until he gets behind the wheel. Then, he turns into the snarling beast, Mr. Wheeler, who believes he has a god-given right to do what he likes, when he likes, and god help any other vehicles or pedestrians that get in his way!

The cartoon is on YouTube, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZAZ_xu0DCg

]]> By: barry gibbon http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-198306 barry gibbon Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:43:55 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-198306 Who is this Norris. I think he needs to go to Europe to see how many countries manage on manual shift cars and trucks. They get better gas milage and polute the enviromnet less. As for snow tires, i wouldnt drive the winter without them, I consider myself a good driver but there are many bad drivers out there and I want all the help I can get on slippery roads. WE all need to be aware and keep our roads safe for everyone, including cyclists! Who is this Norris. I think he needs to go to Europe to see how many countries manage on manual shift cars and trucks. They get better gas milage and polute the enviromnet less.
As for snow tires, i wouldnt drive the winter without them, I consider myself a good driver but there are many bad drivers out there and I want all the help I can get on slippery roads.

WE all need to be aware and keep our roads safe for everyone, including cyclists!

]]> By: Wayne Scott http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-197919 Wayne Scott Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:45:16 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-197919 PS/ Do you guys really think SMACKDOWN is an appropriate title for your discussion on pedestrian interaction with your precious road-machines. Maybe you should read this and get back to us, eh? http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/office_coroner/PublicationsandReports/PedestrianDeathReview/DI_Pedestrian_Death_Review.html PS/ Do you guys really think SMACKDOWN is an appropriate title for your discussion on pedestrian interaction with your precious road-machines. Maybe you should read this and get back to us, eh?

http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/DeathInvestigations/office_coroner/PublicationsandReports/PedestrianDeathReview/DI_Pedestrian_Death_Review.html

]]> By: Wayne Scott http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-193910 Wayne Scott Wed, 17 Oct 2012 21:00:43 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-193910 Take a good look at Mr. McDonald before folks who think like him are extinct. Thankfully, he and Mr. Kenzie represent a mercifully endangered species. The truly auto-addled among us don't seem to realize that their unfettered reliance on unnecessarily bulky, over-powerful highway-capable motor vehicles for in-town urban applications is a selfish practice that will disappear with their over-privileged generation of drivers. They still seem to think they should be able to operate their dangerous dirty machinery whenever and wherever they want. Safety, efficiency and sustainability be damned, these old fools are coming through and the rest of us best beware. As the 2003 initiated City of Toronto safe-driving program - that is credited with helping to cut local pedestrian fatalities by more than 25% - said, "WE'RE ALL PEDESTRIANS". It is who we are, based on how we are designed. Any other vehicles we as individuals might use, are secondary personal choices and therefore the privilege of using them should be tied directly to the operator's responsibility to do so without injuring those who do not have to rely on such personal mobility-assistive devices. Chris Hume wins the argument but it really isn't much of a debate, eh? Still, one would have hoped that WHEELS might have better articulated the two sides of the argument for this poll. But as it does come from the auto-industry shills at WHEELS, one does not expect much clarity of thought. Take a good look at Mr. McDonald before folks who think like him are extinct.

Thankfully, he and Mr. Kenzie represent a mercifully endangered species.

The truly auto-addled among us don’t seem to realize that their unfettered reliance on unnecessarily bulky, over-powerful highway-capable motor vehicles for in-town urban applications is a selfish practice that will disappear with their over-privileged generation of drivers.

They still seem to think they should be able to operate their dangerous dirty machinery whenever and wherever they want.

Safety, efficiency and sustainability be damned, these old fools are coming through and the rest of us best beware.

As the 2003 initiated City of Toronto safe-driving program – that is credited with helping to cut local pedestrian fatalities by more than 25% – said, “WE’RE ALL PEDESTRIANS”. It is who we are, based on how we are designed.

Any other vehicles we as individuals might use, are secondary personal choices and therefore the privilege of using them should be tied directly to the operator’s responsibility to do so without injuring those who do not have to rely on such personal mobility-assistive devices.

Chris Hume wins the argument but it really isn’t much of a debate, eh?

Still, one would have hoped that WHEELS might have better articulated the two sides of the argument for this poll.

But as it does come from the auto-industry shills at WHEELS, one does not expect much clarity of thought.

]]> By: joe http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-193734 joe Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:11:33 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-193734 Toronto Motorist seriously? A licensed driver uses a vehicle weighing more than two tons and can travel up to 150 km an hour. A cyclist uses a vehicle weighing at most 40 lbs and has a maximum speed of 30km/h. Who needs to be more careful? I drive a car, a motorcycle and a bicycle. When I drive the car or the motorcycle I share the road with cyclists and give them room because believe it or not they are at more risk from crashing because of some thrown away piece of garbage or pothole than the car is. You have the larger, heavier vehicle the onus is on you to be more careful. Driving is a privilege it's not an entitlement that allows you to be ruler of the road! Toronto Motorist seriously? A licensed driver uses a vehicle weighing more than two tons and can travel up to 150 km an hour. A cyclist uses a vehicle weighing at most 40 lbs and has a maximum speed of 30km/h. Who needs to be more careful? I drive a car, a motorcycle and a bicycle. When I drive the car or the motorcycle I share the road with cyclists and give them room because believe it or not they are at more risk from crashing because of some thrown away piece of garbage or pothole than the car is. You have the larger, heavier vehicle the onus is on you to be more careful. Driving is a privilege it’s not an entitlement that allows you to be ruler of the road!

]]> By: TorontoMotorist http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-is-the-pedestrian-king-of-the-road-in-the-city/#comment-191036 TorontoMotorist Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:22:40 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=29618#comment-191036 Anyone who sets foot (or tire) on a City street should be responsible for his/her own actions. It's galling to think a motorist would be charged for the failings of a bicyclist or other road user who believes they have a free pass on reckless behaviour. First and foremost, all cyclists (and e-bikers) should have the onus of satisfactorily completing an accredited road safety course and be licensed the same way as a motor vehicle operator. If you're going to share the roads then you should have to share the responsibility. It may be a way of cutting down on the number of bike courier incidents as well as save lives. Food for thought... Anyone who sets foot (or tire) on a City street should be responsible for his/her own actions. It’s galling to think a motorist would be charged for the failings of a bicyclist or other road user who believes they have a free pass on reckless behaviour.

First and foremost, all cyclists (and e-bikers) should have the onus of satisfactorily completing an accredited road safety course and be licensed the same way as a motor vehicle operator. If you’re going to share the roads then you should have to share the responsibility. It may be a way of cutting down on the number of bike courier incidents as well as save lives.

Food for thought…

]]>