I hit a passing car, as a pedestrian.......

[douglas vincent]

So I admit I went "further" than I should have....but....


So I step out of my shop and go to cross the street. My shop is directly across the street from a convenience store. During busy times (and not so busy times) cars have to wait to turn across traffic to get into the stores parking lot. When this happens, other cars often pass on the right down the bike lane. (is this legal, I have no clue, I just know I have almost been clipped a few times).

This street is parking lane, bike lane, car lane, center line, car lane, bike lane, parking lane. Pretty standard.

So tonight, I walk through the parking lane filled with cars into the bike lane and wait for traffic to clear. ASSHAT, as he will now be refered to, cannot wait for the car turning left and @ high speed (we have photo radar van parked here all the time, so I definately know what legal traffic speed looks like (and I am 300 feet from a school ), ducks into the bike lane and heads right for me.

Its split second decision time folks. Do I duck back, hold my ground or what...

I hold my ground and lean over and slap his windshield as he veers back into the traffic lane to miss me. I DID NOT have to jump, move or anyting to soundly slap a good 18" into the windshield area! Just a 10-15" leanover.. I. however, have never left the bike lane. I am being as completely honest as possible here. I DID slap his car on purpose. But at the same time, he is not where he should be.... And the legality of the pass is ???.

Anyway, he pulls over and confronts me. I say, "fine. I'll call the cops and let them settle it." He says "Go ahead, you hit my car". he adds, if he wasnt in rehad/still drinking he would kick my ass. But then while I am on the phone with 911, he drives off. 911 says since no witnesses, I touched his car, he drove off, they can't do anything.

My thumb is going to be bruised.

One of those situations where if you hold back, nothing happens, but THEY (any these situations) are #*^*%#$* holes and NEED to be woken up.

I have also almost been clipped in a MARKED EFFING CROSSWALK and kicked in the door of the car that jumped around another to get through, so yes, I can get agro when in the legal boundries of BEING RIGHT.... Damn cars.

Whats your take?

[93forestpearl]

Then stuff a glock ten in his face and say " SLOW THE FUCK DOWN"




Then I woke up, lol. This is america, and it is full of douche bags. I don't know if I would have hit his car like that, but I probably would have wished I did afterward. If I was in your shoes, I would have stayed in his face longer.

[asc_up]

Well what he did was illegal. Bike lanes can be used for bikes, skateboards, roller blades, scooters and walking pedestrians; NOT cars.

And aside from that, pedestrians have the right-of-way no matter where they are. So even if you were in the middle of the road and he hit you, you would probably get a J-walking ticket and then you could sue the crap out of him.

The legal system is a beautiful thing

[n2x4]

It's ridiculous, I cross the street to get to school from the parking lot I'm in every other day. If you start to walk out in traffic to get the cars to stop you usually get dirty looks. I then point to the big fat "Yield to Pedestrians" sign and wave.

I've almost been hit, people just don't pay attention. Like the police said, there's not much they can do. I've pointed out people when they're wrong but it usually doesn't get anywhere. I beeped at a guy once who blew a stop sign and he followed me to where I was going and threatened to "kick my ass" when I got out of the car.

I hope you dented that car though

[Fkyx]

You weren't wrong to do anything. I bet you scared him shitless, though, with the slap and call to 911.

I do my best to respect pedestrians. I guess it's mostly because I went 20 years without a driver's license, and ended up walking a LOT as a result.

[James614]

Meh. I say suck it up, cause unless you thoroughly kick the guy's ass, he isn't gonna change. And even then it's a toss-up. It's not worth the effort (or a bruised thumb). These people are the reason new cars are now required to meet "pedestrian safety" standards; they must have softer bumpers, and more space under the top of the hood so you won't hurt yourself as bad rolling onto the car.

So umm.... yeah, I guess my point is either kick his ass or let it be.

[evolutionmovement]

I've almost been rear-ended a bunch of times for stopping for crosswalks. Does get annoying in high-ped traffic areas like Cambridge, but that's the breaks.

When I was at CCS, one of my roommates was a huge weightlifting guy and some moron almost hit him while we were in the middle of a crosswalk over Woodward in Detroit. The guy ended up slamming short and my roommate had to jump/got pushed to avoid the guy. He slammed his fists down on the guy's hood and scared the living shit out of him and the guy took off. Being Detroit, though, that could have gotten him shot so might not have been the best idea. That was the worst place for traffic laws I've ever driven though—nobody stops for lights, they just blow through as fast as they can and they don't even look in the direction they're turning when they whip around a corner.

[Redlined]

This is another one where there are douchebags on both sides of the fence.

Nothing gets my goat more than when someone ( this group the majority seems to be comprized mainly of pre-teen kids. more female than male. but ive seen it done by all walks of life) Stands on the corner of the walk. watches you approach. Then when you a close enough, step in front of you and walk as ssssslllllooooowwwww aaaaasssss pppppooooosssssiiiiibbbbbbllllleeeee. Forcing you to a complete stop and wasting your time as they prove they are better to you. Then they go home and masturbate into their own feces and rub it on their face giggling gleefully. Keep in mind. Yes. you have the right of way. However they other guy has something like two tons of steel and glass that isn't going to care one way or another if he doesn't hit the breaks, where as your legs/internal organs will.

That being said. there are tons of douchebag motorists who block walkways. Speed in populated areas, charge pedestrians. honk horns, and yes, use portions of the road not designated for use by motor vehicles. These people not only inconvenience others, but endanger them as well, once again. two tons of steel and glass vs soft flesh.

Really what we are observing is the total and complete loss of "Common Courtesy" as people (on both sides of the fence) become more and more self concerned and fail to take into account the impact on others of their actions... That and a rise in the population of douchebags that enjoy raising the ire of others.

[Arctic Assassian]

I carry a srpingfield XD-40 compact just for asshats like these. People that need to escalate a situation, because they are tough.

I had some 25 year old asshat smash through my neighborhood. It was about 6 o'clock on a weekday last summer. There were about twelve neighborhood kids playing in the street. All but one saw the truck smashing (As in tires squeeling, massive body roll) around the corner. The one kid was just pedaling his bike down the street, facing away from the truck. The truck accellerates, then slams on his brakes right before hittin the kid, and blares his horn. Then stabs the gas, the kid falls on the ground, and is now halfway under the truck, with the tire of the bike folded under the truck.

I am bent over a project "L" and drop my tools, hop the fence, and sprint over to the road. Dude in the truck jumps out, tells me to shut the fuck up or I'm gonna get beat.

So I say, "watch your tone punk, you just about ran that kid over, and the whole fucking neighborhood saw you do it!"

He says" I dont give a fuck, now run back to your mommy."

At that point, I pull out my phone, he starts to come towards me, I tell him to stop, he continues. I pull my xd, say, "hit the fucking ground bitch" And dial 911. I tell the operator what happened, how I'm holding this guy on the ground, And how they need to get someone there RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!

I have never had a unit show up in three minutes! Officer shows up, takes my gun, makes sure it hasnt been fired. I hadn't even taken the safety off. By that time, concerned parents that saw me do the right thing had gathered, and the officer took statements. Had the truck towed, and took that douche canoe to jail. Reckless driving, reckless endangerment, and assault. He tried to come back at me in civil court, but it never even made it past preliminary hearings because of the testimony I had from the officer, the 911 operator, and the neighbors.

I have never fired my weapon at anything other than a target, or an animal. But it sure has come in handy as a psycological tool.

[evolutionmovement]

Definitely, there are idiots on both ends. The assholes who do that slow-walk shit in crosswalks I treat like moving apexes when possible. Make them change their underwear. Or there are the dicks who can cross an intersection fine on a red light, but hit the f'n crosswalk button just before they step off. Most of the intersections these shitheads seem to frequent are the ridiculously long ones even without having to sit through unnecessary ped-lights. Haven't figured out if they're just obliviously self-centered and stupid (thinking the crosswalk lights work immediately or hit they just blindly the button before their brain registers that they can cross) or intentionally assholes. I think I actually prefer it if they're intentionally assholes.

What I do enjoy are the idiots on ipods walking the tracks blissfully thinking they have the right of way to trains. Had a few of them around here lately. Even if they can't hear it, I have no idea how they can't see, feel, or sense it. Oh well.

[BSOD2600]

I say you're in the right, completely.

More than one occasion, I've been nearly clipped while crossing a 5 lane (2 each direction, center turning) highway, with the crosswalk light ON. No I'm not an ass taking my time (hate those people too), just its a wide ass street to cross, and idiot drivers who are turning from the opposite direction aren't paying attention to the pedestrians.

Just to further illustrate my point, google maps and street view of this lovely intersection in question:


I have to cross from where that black sedan/telephone pole is to the left side of the screen. The stupid light for turning left from 61st activates the same time the crosswalk does. Thus, the moron drivers will meet pedestrians in the middle of the highway...

Yes, they piss me off.

[Redlined]

Once got clipped by a pizza delivery guy. Bicycling home after work. two lane highway crosses a 5 lane highway. at the intersection the Bicycle lane moves over a halfstep to clear an area for people making Right hand turns. Always made my stomach turn as while I had the right of way and there was a big ass sign saying bicyclists have the right of way at the point where the Bicycle lane "Crosses" the now emerging Turn lane, Nobody ever so much as slowed down. Was always scared Id get creamed as I crossed the lane.

Anywho. Pizza boy goes to the turn lane. I follow the bike lane to the inside. Light turns green and I start across the intersections. Well apparently pizza boy changed his mind about turning and accelerated across the intersection. He hit the side of my bike around the Rear wheel area, with his front drivers side fender, I didn't get knocked over but it sure scared the shit out of me. I was like "What the FUCK dude!" He blares his horn at me as yells some gibberish out the window. Then drives off. Unfortunately I didnt have my cell phone with me and there where no witnesses. Forget Bicycling. Almost getting flattened by a car is the best Cardiovascular workout eva!

[evolutionmovement]

I got hit on a bike in high school. I was riding with traffic and passing a Camaro waiting at a side street to pull out and looking in the complete opposite direction from where I was coming. I had a bad feeling about this guy and was right (could have just been that he was driving a Camaro) when he stomped on the gas as I was passing him. Hit my foot/right pedal and sent me flying, my knee smashing the crossbar and causing me to tuck into a roll in mid air like some Cirque de Soliel (sp?) clown. I landed, still in a roll, jumped up, and grabbed my bike out of the street, intending to just keep going on my way, but when I bent down to look at the bike, I noticed the frame was toast and then couldn't stand as my knee swelled up and locked my leg in the collapsed position. Got me out of gym class for high school. I used the study to do the homework I otherwise would never had done and no longer had to be subjected to watching spoiled suburban kids 'pretend' to be gay with each other dry humping in gym. Sometimes it's too much to expect someone to look in the direction of travel, much less far ahead. Worked out for me, though.

[Buffman]

I have never had a unit show up in three minutes! Officer shows up, takes my gun, makes sure it hasnt been fired. I hadn't even taken the safety off.

Taken what safey off? Unless you mean you had your trigger finger on the guard , then all safeties on the XD were off..

[Carbix]

Take it from a guy that has been hit twice... I would have done a lot more then smack his car with my hand...

I have been hit twice and im 6'4 260lb how could you miss me.

If you are on any kind of cross walk and a car tuches you even if you run into the side of it... its the cars fault.

[Arctic Assassian]

Taken what safey off? Unless you mean you had your trigger finger on the guard , then all safeties on the XD were off..

I ALWAYS keep my finger off untill something's getting blasted. There was no round chambered. It could have been unloaded and the dude would have done the same thing.

[Buffman]

I was just clarifying for those who are not familiar with the XD as the XD .45 ACP is the only one with a thumb safety.

[evolutionmovement]

Shit, AA, must have cross-posted and I missed it. Way to go! I love how the pussy acts all macho and then takes you to civil court.

[beatersubi]

What I do enjoy are the idiots on ipods walking the tracks blissfully thinking they have the right of way to trains. Had a few of them around here lately. Even if they can't hear it, I have no idea how they can't see, feel, or sense it. Oh well.

Natural selection trying its best to work.

In the OP's situation I prolly would've gotten beaten up.

[i_c_the_light]

I work secuirty and patrol the streets on the weekends. With drunks everywhere who always cross the road in the middle of oncoming traffic, yeah it pisses me off. Especially the ones that can see I'm coming, try to stop me by standing in the middle of the road with their hand out and then do some slow motion style running dance afterwards while I have the horn blasting and the middle finger going overtime.