Pedestrian solipsism

When I was a boy my parents had a dog that constantly ran away whenever local bitches were on heat. He would generally sneak off when we were not looking but if there were people around he would close his eyes and skulk off, as if to say - I cant see you, therefore you cant see me/dont really exist.

I am amazed at the number of pedestrians who use this as a modus operandi for crossing roads.

Classic ones are having a phone in hand and walking out, umbrella users etc.

This morning I watched a girl with a newspaper folded over her head just walk straight out into the path of an oncoming car. Her scream as the car narrowly missed her was quite blood curdling.

Is it about time for the green cross code to be advertised again on TV?

Solipsism may not be quite the right term, but was the closest I could come up with.

Stupidity is a better word.

I hit a girl who did this just the other week - she stepped right out in front of me after looking for traffic the wrong way.....I really clattered her with a crank, I know I did, amazed I stayed on...pulled an inadvertant skid....I looked back and she had just carried on walking, so I continued on...

What can you do?

i am trying to be a little more tolerant of people so was trying to find an alternative explanation than stupidity

part of me believes we should cull these fuckers, mount poison spikes to bull bars and go ramming

I had one of those "Look! look! I'm carrying a coffee, which gives me absolute priority over everyone else" types actually nod towards his coffee before stepping out in front of me last Friday.

I did have plenty of time to stop, but on reflection, felt a slight scald to hand was well worth the dry cleaning bill the cunt was going to get.

I'm always wary of peds.. paranoid even.. so on the rare occasions that one does 'appear' without me expecting them.. fuck 'em.

It's worse now because in shit weather they're all diving across roads trying to get out of the rain.. fucks.

I almost got taken out by a pedestrian by KCH, in Denmark Hill yesterday morning, who had run across the road from the bus stop. The guy riding in front of me did get knocked off, taking one of the pedestrians with him. 'But you were going so fast!' was her defence. Well, don't run across the road without properly taking in to account that a cyclist going downhill is going be somewhat alacritous.

I untangled the cyclist from his bike and fortunately he was ok, more angry than anything. I was impressed that a paramedic from Kings appeared within seconds of the collison though. If you're going to be knocked off your bike by a pedestrian, outside Kings is a great place for it to happen.

So many people don't look when crossing the roads; in some cases they make a point of not looking. Has anyone else had a pedestrian look up, see you, then walk across the road anyway, staring at the tarmac? This seems particularly prevalent around the Victoria area.

I had some dozy Dorris strolling across the road with a mug of tea in one hand whilst on the phone yesterday. I mean who the hell crosses the road holding a mug of tea? I'm not sure what her game was but I do know she go the fright of her life when I avoided her by sheer mms.

So many people don't look when crossing the roads; in some cases they make a point of not looking. Has anyone else had a pedestrian look up, see you, then walk across the road anyway, staring at the tarmac? This seems particularly prevalent around the Victoria area.

Yep have had this happen quite a few times, its the I am in denial look.

Last night someone jumped out in front of me and then had a go when I shouted watch out, saying it was unecessary to shout at them.

When he started having a go I asked if he would rather have 13 stone of me plus bag (thankfully the ti bike weighs nothing) crash into them at just under 20mph.

He then changed his tune and actually thanked me, I think it dawned upon him that him jumping with shock at my shout was better than being my soft landing pad.

cuts both ways.... I was crossing the road on foot this morning to go to the gym and an RLJ'ing cyclist went through a ped crossing on the green man and almost made contact.... I called him a c'nt and he gave me a blank stare as he continued on his way... ffs

But for the ultimate fuckwit ped action, the crossing outside the houses of parliament gets my vote

A guy from work came off the other day because someone with a phone stepped out without looking, he didn't even stop to help, just carried on crossing the road chatting away

Girls wearing high heels with swishy hair are the worst. They are used to cars stopping for them so they just walk out. But that's more pedestrian narcissism than solipsism.

The crossing right outside tottenham crt rd..going on towards oxford st..Gets my vote everytime!

The crossing right outside tottenham crt rd..going on towards oxford st..Gets my vote everytime!

I love Totty Court Road, it's like a slalom course for fixie skidder, with carefully placed peds on all part of the road that you need to go round.

and there's plenty of room to give them a wide berth, win-win really.

Ah Ed I love it too..Just had a few close calls though!

tossers and crossers....you get em everywhere.sometimes the only thing that wakes em up is a good old BELLOWING SHOUT

Always assume peds will step out in front of you.

Thats how I roll.

This is London my friend.

word

Girls wearing high heels with swishy hair are the worst. They are used to cars stopping for them so they just walk out. But that's more pedestrian narcissism than solipsism.

The Spanish have a word for them. Para traficos or some such. Joe?

Always assume peds will step out in front of you.

Thats how I roll.

This is London my friend.

Quite. People on foot are the most dominant mode of traffic in London in the peak hour. You may notice cars more, but there are a lot more pedestrians about than drivers.

It is perfectly possible to avoid issues with pedestrians altogether. As ever, some cycle training (or reading Cyclecraft by John Franklin) will help address that in your riding. Scan the footways as you ride along, especially when there aren't any cars coming. Make eye contact with pedestrians who look and communicate with them in this way. With those who don't look, take evasive action. There aren't many of them. Don't try riding too fast through areas of heavy pedestrian traffic. There's no point. As a cyclist, you are using a mode of urban transport that is superior to both motoring and walking, so show your superiority by being traffic without conflict. Never assume that you have a right of way in a complex urban environment where people's paths intersect more often than they run in parallel. It's a place of interaction, not of ignoring people and trying to travel without acknowledging them.

Are you sure English is your second language?

It's a very close second.

Last night someone jumped out in front of me and then had a go when I shouted watch out, saying it was unecessary to shout at them.

When he started having a go I asked if he would rather have 13 stone of me plus bag (thankfully the ti bike weighs nothing) crash into them at just under 20mph.

bloody hell, james in explaining before fighting shock.

One day I will structure arguments as well as Oliver

The Shickster is spot on with this one.

You cannot expect others to share the road amicably with you if you do not reciprocate.

Far better to ride sensibly and at the right speed when there are lots of meat pylons around, I appreciate they are usually to blame for downright fuckwittery/arogance, but hovering in front of them and explaining how idiotic they are being, face to face, is better than blasting past at 18mph and shouting "cunt!"