College green pedestrians - Almost killed one

[Caroline_ie]

I was cycling into town last night for a bit of shopping and I decided to go towards Grafton street, I took the right turn up O'connell street to end up on the right side of Trinity College. This side is usually busy with buses and cabs, and there is that light that beside that that statue.

I was cycling at confortable yet generous speed on my fixie, the light was green, lots of room on the left of all the cabs going way slowler than me, as I was about to pass the lights ( GREEN ), the suddently cabs slowed down because they couldn't go much further there was a bus in the way about 10 metres across the lights. All happening very suddently, the pedestrians started crossing the road ( it was red for them ) ... BIG MISTAKE! ... cause I was coming.

I slammed on my brake, almost hit a few people. They 'caught the bike' rather than got hit but, I am the one who got hit by my own bike when I also most went over the handlebars.

I swore at the all ... F*cking look where you are going, I got the green light.... they all thought I was mad.

Anyway I hate people ... they're not worth it. I hate town too ...

Just wanted to voice my frustration.

[Lumen]

Human nature - cars stopped, cross road.

The only way to mitigate this is to filter slowly in traffic.

Sheeple, the lot of them.

[is_that_so]

Saw a "cyclist" do this on Kildare St. once. He flew around the corner bellowing "out of the way" and knocked down a poor unfortunate woman. When he got up he just roared "So f****ng sue me" and was gone. Pedestrians are a nightmare whatever transport you use and you need 360 degree radar to cope with their collective stupidity. Even so it is your responsibility not to hit them.

[petethedrummer]

You just have to expect these things, especially if the line of traffic has stopped. People will walk out, unless you start shouting from way back, but then you also look mental. There's no point in fighting it.

It doesn't bother me anymore, cos I think all lights and lines should be removed and the streets should be a well mannered free for all.

[pickarooney]

If you haven't a clear run to the other side, you shouldn't enter the pedestrian crossing, even on green. Unless I've misunderstood the situation, in which case, cream the bollixes next time.

[DJsail]

Name of the game I'm afraid Caroline, you can always count on the stupidity of others especially in town!

[Hungrycol]

David Banner would have turned into the Incredible Hulk in that situation; at least I would and then start throwing pedestrians over Trinity.

[humbert]

Dame St, particularly at night, is one of the most dangerous streets I'm regularly on, mainly due to pedestrians.

[Caroline_ie]

Originally Posted by pickarooney

If you haven't a clear run to the other side, you shouldn't enter the pedestrian crossing, even on green. Unless I've misunderstood the situation, in which case, cream the bollixes next time.

Like I said, the cabs were going slowly, but were still going when they stopped suddently. It was clear on the other side. the pedestrians see the cabs slowing down and start walking in front of them so the cabbies have no choice but to stop. that was that type of things that happenned.

[Dr_Colossus]

Sheep is the only word for them, never look where they're going and college green is particularly a bad spot. Similar to Caroline I was going through there a few months back with a nice bit of speed, the traffic had eased off so out walks a bunch of pedestrians in front of me even though I'd the green light and they were all jailwalking. I've no problem with jailwalking provided you're looking where you're going and not sheepishly strolling out in front of traffic. Anyway had no way of avoiding them all and not enough time to brake so kind of swerved the bike and hit one woman fairly hard with my shoulder and sent her flying. Obviously she and her friend were in shock as she lay sat on the ground with a bruised behind and ego but luckily no damage done and I didn't even get a scratch. Her friend helped her up, I apologised and told them to look where they were going in future and cycled off. Don't think she'll be crossing the road again without looking.

[petethedrummer]

Originally Posted by Dr_Colossus

Sheep is the only word for them.

Cyclists and car drivers sometimes behave like sheep too. Also sheep.

[PCPhoto]

Originally Posted by Dr_Colossus

Sheep is the only word for them, never look where they're going and college green is particularly a bad spot. Similar to Caroline I was going through there a few months back with a nice bit of speed, the traffic had eased off so out walks a bunch of pedestrians in front of me even though I'd the green light and they were all jailwalking. I've no problem with jailwalking provided you're looking where you're going and not sheepishly strolling out in front of traffic. Anyway had no way of avoiding them all and not enough time to brake so kind of swerved the bike and hit one woman fairly hard with my shoulder and sent her flying. Obviously she and her friend were in shock as she lay sat on the ground with a bruised behind and ego but luckily no damage done and I didn't even get a scratch. Her friend helped her up, I apologised and told them to look where they were going in future and cycled off. Don't think she'll be crossing the road again without looking.

I'm not a cyclist (have a motorbike and a car ...Boo Hiss !!!) anyway - I think ALL pedestrians should experience this and maybe they will start to look around before crossing.

I'm one of the few motorists around that actively checks mirrors for fear of cyclists/couriers/motorbikes coming into my blind spot..... never had a bad experience with them - but do have some issues with some cyclist-commuters
(not cyclists but you know the muppets that use a bike but dont know how to use the road...my issue with them is that putting your hand out doesnt mean you can automatically cross three(3) lanes of traffic - always happens at the junction by christchurch - cycle lane on left side of 3 lanes of traffic... just really gets me when they just assume the cars will stop because they put out their hand and thats the right thing to do)

[diverdriver]

Name of the game around there. Just because you have the green doesn't mean the pedestrians are going to pay attention for bikes of any sort. Saw something similar once on the other side of Trinners. Pedestrian crossing beginning to turn. Biker appears, motorcycle that is, filtering, green light, he guns it hard just as a girl make a last minute dash, she trips over the front wheel tumbles and ends up standing on the kerb with her tights torn looking shocked. He goes down on his nearly new bike, scratch, scrape. He's furious but frankly, I had no sympathy, even as a biker myself. He was too dammed aggressive on the throttle. Around town you have to expect pedestrian to leap out in front of you. Ask any motorcycle or bicycle courier.

Jaywalking around town is an issue, guilty of it myself to be honest. On the motorcycle I used to rev engine loudly. That made them scatter. Not an on option on a bicycle. Maybe an air horn would do it?

Cyclists can be their own worst enemies too. I was at a T junction and got the green. As I turned right, behind me I suddenly heard a girl scream 'Look out!' following by the crash of a bike behind me. I was about to stop but I thought cynically, 'Stupid girl running a red light'. I didn't even stop to look.

Don't worry, you'll become battle hardened. After years of cycling and biking around town. I could almost read people's minds. You have to if you want to survive.

[Morgan]

You should have rung your bell.

[Waterfall1975]

I've had a few collisions & pulled plenty of 'endos' over the years. Unfortunately, rule of the road: 'a green light does not give right of way, it's just a signal to proceed if safe/with caution' ...(or something close to that.)