Zebra crossing

[Karebu]

Recently I find adult Malays very kind. Perhaps this is why they are very tolerant of their youth who always seem rowdy, inconsiderate and irritating.

 

What made me say so. On my skates (inline skates aka rollerblades), no one stopped for me while I slowed as I approached and waited patiently by the zebra crossing. Not Malaysian cars. Not Chinese Singaporeans. I probably could have dashed and cause people to brake suddenly and very likely cause a minor collision, or at the very least, send someone cussing away. Skates wouldn't even take a fraction of a second to cross 1.5 metres.

 

I don't understand why people don't stop. It's usually aggravated if the first car doesn't stop - the entire line of 20-30 cars have a MAJOR tendency to follow suit.

 

Yesterday, a Malay lady stopped for me. And today, a Malay (merc) cab driver waved me over.

 

 

And if you were the driver you would have noticed that the skater you stopped for beamed thankfully at you, nodded slightly and returned your wave.

 

 

PS: I'm Chinese and 20; perhaps some associate skaters (and the age?) to pai kia?

Edited May 28, 2008 by Karebu

[Aristotle]

Normally I'll just take my first step out and keep eye contact with the drivers that "I WILL BE CROSSING THE ROAD! ". They will normally stop for me. Maybe it's a difficult situation for you, but sometimes you got to make the first step to "stop" these buggers. You might have looked like you are not crossing, so the rest all follow suit loh!

 

Sometimes if those guai lan drivers purposely drive very fast near the zebra crossing with a fast approaching speed, I will make them jam brake by using the tactics above, and then walk thru the zebra crossing at a snail's pace.

[David]

What happened if that driver did not jam brake or could not brake in time to stop? You would probably get hurt seriously, metal vs soft tissue and fragile bone. Not worth it.

 

Sometime back someone adviced that you only know your right to cross that road when the driver stop for you. I take this approach and whoever failed to stop, if it is a private car - I pray that the next time they cross the road, somebody stop for him but if it is a taxi then its a call to th company or LTA.

[Karebu]

Well last month I saw an old uncle cycle across without checking. He caused a P plate van driven by a Bangladesh worker to rear end someone who missed the uncle by 2cm. The uncle cycled on and away.

 

 

Anyway if I do that (just go rightfully onto the crossing and) get hit BADLY I'm very sure people will all point fingers at me and the headlines go, "Skater dashes across zebra crossing, hit by car" when I could have been rolling across at snail's pace. And people would be going, "Wah, skater now also F&F"

Edited May 28, 2008 by Karebu

[Qpik]

u 4got 1 more option, always slow down when coming to one. defensive driving rulez 101

 

in spore, if a driver slow down, i am grateful.

 

however, i wld be eternally thankful if driver dun try to force me to run or run me down at zebra.

 

there are 1 bad habit that i am rather concerned amongst pedestrains when they r using hp. sometimes, they can stopped at the start of zebra to use their hp. n when u moved on (after they exhibited signs of not moving) they will suddenly jump out.

 

p/s: i also learnt to put up my hand when using it.

Edited May 28, 2008 by Qpik

[Karebu]

thinking i should change topic.

 

Do you hate skaters?

 

Yes

No

Depends.

 

 

sad.

[Qpik]

why??

 

actually skaters, pedestrains, cyclists all hv their own experience to share. likewise with drivers. if u start this poll/thread to understand more abt the mindset of drivers as well as behaviours to expect, then yr thread did answer yr objectives. sometimes, the answers are clear if one can only take a step back to ponder over it.

 

however, being a forum, it is natural to expect answers that might not be music to yr ears. just accept it and don't get too personally involved cos sometimes, we really can't fathom the reasons for them to make such statements.

 

to answer yr qtn, no i don't hate skaters per se. just some actions of road user who are sending out wrong signals while as a driver that is the most critical issues.

[Aristotle]

Just to clarify. When I say I took the 1st step, it is usually at the edge of the road. No way I'm going to put my leg right in front of a speeding car. I think eye contact is very important. It does give the drivers the "I'm watching you" look, so pls stop for the pedestrains.

[Robin]

it depends on the position of the pedestrian... if he/she has started to cross and is already on the crossing, i'll stop

 

if he/she has not reached the crossing/has not started to cross, then i wun stop

[Karebu]

how about one that's waiting by the zebra crossing?

[Gendut]

Malays like to relaxxxxxx

 

Maybe too much cos the world is changing. Otherwise they will be left behind.

[Wadafish]

SOme drivers will associate you for a vehicle or a Trailer cuz u have '8 Wheels'

Jokes aside, yea some drivers are very impatient these days, dun slow down at Jeebra Crossing. Most Jeebra crossing is situated at filter lanes, which will have cars coming from the right side of the road, no matter wad, the driver will definately have to slow down one way or another.

 

As for skating, I seldom see pai kia skates

[Irene]

So whats the argument here?

Anyway i always give way to ppl who stop b4 crossing and i appreciate that.

Better than the majority who just cross without looking.

I still remember the comedian Hua Liang died while crossing...

[inlinesix]

Basically, i think there is no mutual understanding btw pedestrians & drivers. Some crossing has a lot of ppl. However, some of these pedestrians juz take their own sweat time without d sense of urgency. As a driver, i will creep slowly until it is on zebra crossing. Pedestrians has 2 let me pass. As pedestrian, i will purposely slow down 2 let d driver go through. Once i reach zebra crossing, i will take quicker pace.

 

Some drivers has bad driving etiquette. They don't stop @ stops wif low pedestrian traffic. Well, u will hav 2 tell them 2 stop wif hand sign & cross.

[Robin]

if he/she is on the far side then i may drive thru if i'm in a hurry

 

if he/she is on the near side then, no. i'll let he/she cross

[Lexxmexx]

On the other hand, I have also come across those guai-lan ah bengs and young punks who take their own sweet time to cross the zebra crossing and some will even purposely stop halfway to light a cigarette, as if they own the roads

[Karebu]

yea experienced that too. does that make you wanna stop for selective people? only those that look prim and proper? or otherwise, if it looks like paikia, don't stop.

[Galantspeedz]

I stop for everyone...... BUT only if i see them...