Grimlocke reports how she almost got hit by a car in Brookline this morning:
In the crosswalk. I threw my bagel and hit the car. Then I ate the bagel. Everyone who drives in Brookline is an assclown.
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Ah, but what is not mentioned...
By Someone who dri...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 12:49pm
...is under exactly what circumstances this bagel-throwing pedestrian was crossing the street. Simply being in the crosswalk, contrary to popular belief among Brookline pedestrians, does not guarantee one the automatic right of way at all times -- there are also handy traffic lights and walk / don't walk signals everyone is supposed to follow and which as far as I can tell NEVER are. I have seen pedestrians in Brookline WAIT until the light turns AGAINST THEM, look and see approaching cars coming at a high rate of speed, and THEN CROSS ANYWAY.
News flash: a high sense of entitlement ("Everyone who drives in Brookline is an assclown"?! TOTALLY. It's obviously THEM, right? ALL OF THEM. Never you!!) and painted lines on the road will not protect you from 2 tons of steel going 40 mph or faster. Just FYI.
first thing: I'm a girl.
By anon
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 1:19pm
second thing: News Flash, Yes it is THEM. I was in the very center of the street on a midstreet crosswalk, touching the lovely standing sign that says "$100 Fine" unless you stop for ped crossing. I threw the bagel at the SECOND person that flew at a good 35 mph 2 feet in front of me after having blown through a light at School street 50 yards away from my crosswalk. A policeman watched this whole transaction. I'm sure if I had been out of line, I'd have gotten a talking to. I didn't. Thanks for your two cents, assclown.
Love,
Grim
Apologies for the gender confusion
By adamg
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 1:38pm
Fixed.
Thank You
By anon
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:01pm
Thanks, AgamG. It's not an uncommon mistake. :)
Never mind that....we all need to know:
By Sarcastic Sam
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 1:56pm
Was it a Kupel's? If so, which variety?
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who and the what now?
In order to maintain some street cred
By anon
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:02pm
I must plead the 5th on that topic.
That speaks volumes!
By Sarcastic Sam
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:32pm
Ewww it was a Bruegger's wasn't it!
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who and the what now?
RTFM, man.
By Danimal
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:59pm
A village in the Volochyskyi Raion of the Khmelnytskyi Oblast, in Ukraine.
Copy and paste from wikipedia much?
By Sarcastic Sam
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:34pm
Just trying to figure out if the bagel might have broken the windshield if thrown slightly harder, that's all, Mr. Bialystock
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who and the what now?
Not "what is a kupel"
By Kaz
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:39pm
"Was it a Kupel"?
typical driver reaction
By Herman Blount
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 1:23pm
The problem with expecting pedestrians to follow the Walk/Don't Walk signs are the signs themselves. In virtually every other major American city, a Walk sign is part of the normal cycle of traffic lights. In other words, there is always a lighted "Walk" sign when there is a red light. By contrast, in the Boston area a pedestrian has to press a button to request the Walk sign and then wait an additional cycle for the Walk sign to appear. Give pedestrians Walk signs for every traffic light cycle rather than make them request and then wait an extra cycle for it. Then, you can complain that pedestrians do not pay attention to Walk/Don't Walk signs.
I'll get right on that!
By Someone who dri...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:05pm
I wasn't aware till your comment that we 'typical drivers' are the ones responsible for the INTERMINABLE WAIT times at traffic lights, and therefore forcing pedestrians out into the road in front of our cars. Will you tell me when the next Boston Driver Meeting vote is to supply pedestrians with more ideal traffic signals to follow? Obviously I missed the last one where the motion was defeated.
Get out of your car
By anon
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:44pm
You can have it back when your entitlement syndrome ebbs away.
Driving is a privilege. It is not a right. It does not make you more privileged than others. If I ever heard my kid say two words of the entitled drivel you are spouting, I'd head to the RMV and revoke my permission for him to drive STAT.
If you can't play nice with your toys or want to play king of the mountain on the roadways, do everybody a favor: get your entitled ass off the road and stay off until you grow up.
There was a study recently
By central squared
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 3:35pm
There was a study recently that said that Mass drivers were the worst at understanding road signs. One example was that ~50% didn't know that the left turn arrow with the red line through it (the ghostbusters type sign) meant that they couldn't turn left. Pedestrians around here seem just as moronic. Red means don't walk. White or green means walk. How freakin hard is it? I've seen mothers playing frogger with cars on Boylston while pushing a stroller. It's ridiculous. All because people don't want to wait 30 seconds or a minute? Last year on Newbury a woman was killed when she jaywalked and an suv backed into her while trying to park. It's just not worth it. The sense of entitlement around here is pretty appalling, both drivers and pedestrians. I walk 95% of the time, and I see this idiocy daily. Travel to other cities and see how people respond to signage. They follow it...
I'd rather wait a couple more seconds....
By Someone who dri...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 1:58pm
...than be hit by a car, but OBVIOUSLY that is just me.
And the fact that a police officer didn't see fit to intervene in your little situation does not imply you have the right of way. It implies you weren't worth his time.
But that's fine. Keep calling everyone assclowns and throwing bagels. That's obviously an effective way to relate to ppl and speaks volumes about your obvious rectitude in this situation.
So, hows that bagel dent?
By anon
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:38pm
You really must prove your assclownosity, eh?
How about this gem in your driving manual - you know, the one that came in that crackerjack box with your license? MA law specifically says that pedestrian + crosswalk = special assclown snowflake titty babies have to stop their pwecious mommy-bought cars, along with all other drivers in their cars.
anon wrote: "How about this
By Herman Blount
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:50pm
anon wrote:
"How about this gem in your driving manual - you know, the one that came in that crackerjack box with your license? MA law specifically says that pedestrian + crosswalk = special assclown snowflake titty babies have to stop their pwecious mommy-bought cars, along with all other drivers in their cars."
Amen. Read your traffic laws. Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk.
MGL
By eekanotloggedin
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 3:38pm
DOES NOT say that. See the other 2390478239874 discussions on UHub about this topic. The law says that at an UNSIGNALED crosswalk, cars yield to peds. When there's a bigredhand telling the pedestrian not to cross, the pedestrian is breaking the law.
Yep
By Someone who dri...
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:46am
Keep making your assumptions and calling names.
I believe what my original comment was pointing out was that none of these details about you being in the middle of the road were included in your original post. You simply posted as if being in the crosswalk = you have the right of way in all cases.
In the case of your particular incident, the driver blew the light he was supposed to be following. This in turn unleashed your little breakfast-food missile. These clarifying details--which you have only very indignantly laid out after the fact--make that *particular incident* more understandable than it originally seemed.
What still isn't understandable is your blanket statement that it's the drivers who are the problem, period, hands down, and your name-calling and projection on me once I identified myself as a driver. I do find it pretty ironic that the original fury here has been unleashed by a driver not following the traffic signals he's supposed to follow, AND by my suggestion afterwards that pedestrians should *also* follow traffic lights and often fail, particularly in Brookline.
Maybe you've never driven through Boston or Brookline. Maybe the fact that you don't drive a car makes you feel superior. Some of us, for various reasons, frequently find ourselves driving on those roads. Guess what? It sucks for us every bit as much as it sucks for you. It is difficult enough to navigate through the ridiculous roads, signals, signs and deal with trains and other cars without pedestrians jumping out in front of you every few feet because they're not paying attention and think any time they're in a crosswalk regardless of what's going on around them they have the right of way and cars can just stop. I don't want to commit vehicular homicide any more than the next person, but pedestrians in Brookline often make it very, very difficult.
Maybe next time a pedestrian steps out in front of my car I'll throw a bagel at them.
I can't hear you, roll your window down and put your phone down.
By Someone who see...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:45pm
you missed the point, but I can't say I'm surprised. I was already in the middle of the crosswalk by the time the first person blasted through it. I was staring into the eyes of both the first assclown and the second assclown when they were still 50 yards away and were in no way lessening their speed, though I absolutely had the right to continue through the second half of the crosswalk. The only reason I didn't react fast enough to hit the first driver as he sped almost over my toes as I stood on the double yellow line in the center of the crosswalk was because I throw with my right hand, and in that hand I was holding my ceramic coffee cup. That would have gone through the windshield. The cop probably would have had something to say about that. So, I tempered my rage and my poor bagel did the martyr's job on the windshield of the second self-absorbed Brookline AssClownCar. A nice gentleman also crossing behind me then picked up my naked bagel and asked, "are you all right?", handing it delicately back to me. "Sure!" I replied. "It's just a little airborne, it's still good." Somewhere at the ends of reality, on some ice-blue pinnacle,in the halls of Valhalla, a bagel has appeared on the plate of some sexy beardy Norse god, who is probably legitimately confused.
Anon/Grim wrote: "Yes it is
By Herman Blount
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 2:48pm
Anon/Grim wrote:
"Yes it is THEM. I was in the very center of the street on a midstreet crosswalk, touching the lovely standing sign that says "$100 Fine" unless you stop for ped crossing."
The sign clearly indicates that cars are supposed to stop for pedestrians. The cars didn't stop. They were wrong. Simple as that. That is the law, whether or not a cop decided to act or not.
My point about the Walk signs is that one should not expect pedestrians to wait for a Walk sign when they have the green light. If Boston traffic lights always gave pedestrians a Walk sign when they had a green light like they do in every other city, then you would be right to say that pedestrians should wait for the Walk. But Walk signs are not part of the cycle, they must be requested AND sometimes those buttons don't even work. So, the Walk/Don't Walk lights are irrelevant. If a pedestrian is in a crosswalk and has the green light or it is a crosswalk where it is clearly marked that the pedestrian has the right of way, the pedestrian has the right of way.
What is so wrong about letting a pedestrian cross the street? Too much trouble to sit on your ass a few more seconds? :)
What's so wrong
By Will LaTulippe
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:18pm
about letting a driver drive a car down the street? Too much trouble to stand on your ass a few more seconds?
It's called "taking turns." It's taught in kindergarten. When the light is green, it is the CAR's turn. When the walk signal shows the image of the person walking, it is the PEDESTRIAN's turn. It's not any simpler than that. Anybody who thinks that they're above the rule deserves to get run over.
As was pointed out....
By Michael Kerpan
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:25pm
WALK lights do not function in many spots.
Does that mean pedestrians should stand waiting forever, Mr. defender of "civil discourse"?
It means
By Will LaTulippe
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:54pm
that they should get fixed!
In the meantime, watch for a red light on the street that you wish to cross.
Seriously, does no one read these things all the way through?
By Grim
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:26pm
Will darling...? Stand on my ass a few seconds IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD? Thanks for your own assclown two cents. For the love of Phnepsilon!
Did I say that?
By Will LaTulippe
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:55pm
Did I tell you to stand in the middle of the road?
Jesus, for a lady, you're not particularly pleasant.
But can we agree
By FrancescaFordiani
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:18pm
But can we agree that throwing things at moving cars will not result in safer conditions for either drivers or pedestrians, and neither will walking back into traffic to retrieve said thrown object?
I'd like to believe
By Will LaTulippe
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:21pm
that civil discourse could rule in such matters.
I re-read
By FrancescaFordiani
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 5:29pm
I re-read the original post, and so it looks like Grimlocke did not go back into trafffic to retrieve the bagel, but someone else behind her retrieved it for her. I jumped to a conclusion, and I apologize. But still.
When pilots of heavy equipment behave ...
By anon
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:40pm
civil discourse may then take place. It is UNCIVIL to ram a piece of heavy equipment where it does not belong, threatening the lives of others.
That's where UNCIVIL starts. Want civil discourse? Start by obeying the CIVIL laws of the road.
You're right
By Will LaTulippe
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:56pm
I stop at red lights and watch for pedestrians and walk signals on turns. I'm not the problem.
Read your MGLs
By Brett
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 6:34pm
If a pedestrian is in a crosswalk and has the green light or it is a crosswalk where it is clearly marked that the pedestrian has the right of way, the pedestrian has the right of way.
Pedestrians don't get green lights. If there is a functioning traffic signal, the pedestrian does not have the right of way if they've got a red hand. If they have a lit-up white man, the ped does, car does not. And there's frequently signage to that effect to remind drivers.
Drivers CAN stop for you if you've got the red hand, but they don't have to yield to you- you have to yield to them. And if you charge out into the street and get struck, chances are slim to none the driver will face charges, you'll be dead, and they've got years of therapy. If you survive, you'll be paying your medical bills plus the cost of the damage to their car.
The Rules
By Grim
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 7:03pm
Ok, I'm going to say this in as few uncomplicated words as I can. Let's try to get it in one, shall we?
If a pedestrian in Massachusetts has had time to reach the center of the road on a NO SIGNAL, MID ROAD crosswalk by the time you reach it, that pedestrian bloody well has the state given right to proceed the rest of the bloody way across the bloody street. You are bound, by law. To. Stop.
Ok, you may carry on with your amusing expulsions of air and cream pie throwing now.
Fine
By Will LaTulippe
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 1:49am
If somebody is in the middle of the road, I'm happy to stop and let them finish. It's the fucksticks at Harvard Ave that try to start crossing against my green that deserve to get hit.
It's been my experience that
By crazylegs
Tue, 09/22/2009 - 11:14am
It's been my experience that both parties are at fault 50% of the time. Some pedestrians literally run out into traffic virtually looking for a fight. Throwing an object at a car speaks volumes about you though. Someday someone is going to stop and teach you a lesson. Do you think that driver will be kind enough to stop for the next pedestrian due to your actions? The driver was ignorant but you are an a$$clown.
Bagel vs Vehicular
By Danimal
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 6:34pm
Bagel vs Vehicular Manslaughter... I think I'd be happy for the bagel.
Back in my driving days, I had a pedestrian punch my car. I felt crappy for being a bad driver and was more aware all the ride home.
I do that pretty often,
By HenryAlan
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 9:29pm
I do that pretty often, though it's usually more of a slap.
JC
By Sarcastic Sam
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 10:57am
I'll admit to doing that myself, to cabbies in particular who make right turns and nearly run over people attempting to cross in a crosswalk with the go-signal.
I'm very VERY pro-pedestrian. Whenever someone is in a crosswalk, I always stop. I'd rather be "that stupid driver" to stop and let someone cross, than hit someone just to make a point.
Same deal with anyone on a bike...yeah they drive crazily, but I'm not going to hit someone just to prove that I had the right of way.
But... one time a very stupid young lady slapped my car after doing the following
1) walked out into the street between two parked cars
2) went through moving traffic in the middle of a block...no crosswalk, not even at a corner.
3) approached my car in a blind spot
4) had the nerve to expect the sea of traffic to part for her jaywalking ass.
So I had no choice but to take the only course of action possible, as she leered back at me with a sly grin after almost getting hit by two other cars: I rolled down the window and yelled, "Hey, don't touch my car you stupid f&*@ing jaywalking c&*t!"
Then the smile was on my face instead, all the way home.
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who and the what now?