Kamakaze Pedestraian on Tuscan last evening.

6:55 P.M. You were wearing black and grey clothing. Not very visible after sundown. You were walking in the street, towards Valley. I came across you after the curve in the road. You almost got a rude awakening.

There is a ....in' sidewalk on the other side of Tuscan. Use it.

I was back in town the other night, and came across a pedestrian wearing all black crossing a dark side street mid block.  By luck the person’s shoes, while also black, happened to have white soles.  THAT is what caught my eye, the edge of the white soles of his shoes.  

I wasn’t close enough to risk hitting him, and hope that had I not seen his white soles from the distance I would have seen him in my headlights before I was too close, but it was still unnerving to realize that someone was crossing the street ahead of me and was barely noticeable. 

It isn’t about right or wrong, it is about safety and taking basic precautions when crossing dark streets on foot after dark. 

two nights ago we almost hit a man dressed in all black, in the street blowing leaves. Around 8:30pm WTF?!?? Do people not realize how impossible it is to see someone dressed in all black at night?

last winter there was a guy jogging on Parker Ave. after dark, wearing all black with a black knit cap on his head.  I didn't seem him until he was right in front of my car.  If he had been TRYING he could not have made himself less visible.  He was very lucky I still have good reflexes.

Yeah, it's surprising how little of a clue a lot of people have about walking at night. Coupled with the fact that many people (like us oldster types) have a bit of trouble seeing clearly at night, these folks are just asking for trouble.

Maplewood residents:  The Maplewood Health Department is currently distributing reflective arm bands and blinkers that can be attached to one's jacket.  They are available at Town Hall while supplies last.  Jack: Are you still taking orders for reflective vests?  These items are easy to use and can make one more visible on a dark night on a dark street.

I take vest orders in spring when jogging season begins.

I’ve always wondered after several close whether some people are just tying to get hit, in the hope that they can sue for injuries. Someone walks right in front of the car, no crosswalk, stop sign, nothing. And always in lower speed limit zones 25-30.  Like it’s just low enough to not get them killed. Paranoid I know but it wouldn’t surprise me. 

Are these pedestrians aware that this particular variety of stupid disqualifies them from Darwin Awards?  We need innovative stupidity.

When I walked to the train I had a little keychain flashlight I’d use when crossing the street. It’s a miracle these people aren’t run over every night. Let me just put on my all black track suit and jog side by side with my similarly dressed buddy after dark. Sidewalk? No thanks. I’ll just run in the street. 

RobB said:
Sidewalk? No thanks. I’ll just run in the street. 

 Hey look! This thread comes with a free can of worms!   

But honestly I don't understand not wearing something reflective at night when running in the street. Or carrying some kind of light source.

I've never understood running and walking in the street when the sidewalk is available. I'll really never understand why so many get way out into the street, especially walking. It's like they're trying to impose themselves and get in the way. I love it when they give me the stink eye for honking or just driving as usual without giving ground. It's reasonably possible someone will get hit because of our mutual stubbornness. I can live with that.

Normally, I would agree with you.  However, Tuscan Road poses its own special problem if you live on the side of the street where there is no sidewalk (north side between Prospect and Valley; south side for much of the distance adjacent to College Hill) and landscaping that makes it impossible to walk along the edge of lawns.  In that case, walking in the street is necessary until you reach a point where it is safe to cross the busy roadway.  

joan_crystal said:
Normally, I would agree with you.  However, Tuscan Road poses its own special problem if you live on the side of the street where there is no sidewalk (north side between Prospect and Valley; south side for much of the distance adjacent to College Hill) and landscaping that makes it impossible to walk along the edge of lawns.  In that case, walking in the street is necessary until you reach a point where it is safe to cross the busy roadway.  

 That is all very nice. The place where it is safe to cross the busy roadway is called a crosswalk. In the instance to which I refer, the pedestrian was walking away from the nearest crosswalk. The pedestrian was about 50 feet from the crosswalk at the top of the hill. The person was walking down the hill where the nearest crosswalk was -- maybe-- 250 feet away.

vdfam said:
I've never understood running and walking in the street when the sidewalk is available. I'll really never understand why so many get way out into the street, especially walking. It's like they're trying to impose themselves and get in the way. I love it when they give me the stink eye for honking or just driving as usual without giving ground. It's reasonably possible someone will get hit because of our mutual stubbornness. I can live with that.

 Some people run in the street rather than on the sidewalk because the street is usually smoother (at least in Maplewood, the capital of lumpy sidewalks) so they reduce the risk of injury due to tripping or stepping on uneven terrain.  Not saying that this is a good idea, just mentioning a reason.

mulemom said:

vdfam said:
I've never understood running and walking in the street when the sidewalk is available. I'll really never understand why so many get way out into the street, especially walking. It's like they're trying to impose themselves and get in the way. I love it when they give me the stink eye for honking or just driving as usual without giving ground. It's reasonably possible someone will get hit because of our mutual stubbornness. I can live with that.

 Some people run in the street rather than on the sidewalk because the street is usually smoother (at least in Maplewood, the capital of lumpy sidewalks) so they reduce the risk of injury due to tripping or stepping on uneven terrain.  Not saying that this is a good idea, just mentioning a reason.

 I recognize that some sidewalks are a tripping hazard. But if you are gonna walk or run in the streets at night, don't do it wearing dark clothing.

If you ask me, cops should give tickets to people walking in the street at night without reflective gear.

More government! Yay!

Re: Running/walking in streets vs sidewalks: streets are actually easier on knees and other joints compared to concrete sidewalks.

But totally agree with how hard it is to see pedestrians at night. I get this scare when driving home on Prospect regularly. Was a big part of what I taught my kids about driving at night, and how as pedestrians, they didn't give this much thought because they could see the cars, but they now totally get how hard it is to see pedestrians when they are behind the wheel. 

That's the point. If I hit someone on the road at night because they were not visible, I get a summons and does it make you feel better that your heirs get a settlement?

vdfam said:
I've never understood running and walking in the street when the sidewalk is available. I'll really never understand why so many get way out into the street, especially walking. It's like they're trying to impose themselves and get in the way. I love it when they give me the stink eye for honking or just driving as usual without giving ground. It's reasonably possible someone will get hit because of our mutual stubbornness. I can live with that.

 In general there should be no reason to walk in the street, except for extenuating circumstances like snow piles, temporary lack of sidewalk, or the like. I don't know who walks in the street.

Running in the street is a different situation -- I do it sometimes, on roads that are wide enough (like Wyoming), keeping close to the curb, against the flow of traffic, and during the day.  

But seriously, if you come across a runner while driving you'd buzz them rather than float a few feet out toward the middle of the road if you're able to? And you're fine with the reasonable possibility of hitting someone? All to make a point? 

That's pretty grinch-like if you ask me.  

Running in the street is actually proper form.  However, running against traffic, not with traffic, the latter being for idiots.

 and hmmm.  risk a head on collision and rendering my kids fatherless, or “buzz” some yutz having no clue about safe running etiquette.  probably gonna opt for the latter.

Of course if you're driving and there's no room and you risk a life-ending, head-on collision, you're gonna maintain your path. 

But, buzzing some yutz rather than floating a little wide to give a little room, when there is room to be given: d--- maneuver. 

oh totally agree.  not gonna buzz even the with traffic yutzes if theres room to roam.

but running with traffic is in itself a dbag move

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

mulemom said:

vdfam said:
I've never understood running and walking in the street when the sidewalk is available. I'll really never understand why so many get way out into the street, especially walking. It's like they're trying to impose themselves and get in the way. I love it when they give me the stink eye for honking or just driving as usual without giving ground. It's reasonably possible someone will get hit because of our mutual stubbornness. I can live with that.

 Some people run in the street rather than on the sidewalk because the street is usually smoother (at least in Maplewood, the capital of lumpy sidewalks) so they reduce the risk of injury due to tripping or stepping on uneven terrain.  Not saying that this is a good idea, just mentioning a reason.

 I recognize that some sidewalks are a tripping hazard. But if you are gonna walk or run in the streets at night, don't do it wearing dark clothing.

seriously.  the dude I nearly hit on Parker was jogging in the street, basically dressed like this:

Must be an idiot to be jogging in those shoes.

Klinker said:
Must be an idiot to be jogging in those shoes.

if you're going to get run over you don't need to worry about shin splints.

So ... If I want to "buzz a yutz" I'm Grinch-like and/or a d--- ... Truth

1- Act One Grinch is my spirit animal. I happen to be "Get off my lawn!" years old.

2- My d---ery may or may not be a case of Monkey see, monkey do ... I mean, when in Rome, right?

next they’ll be jogging with virtual reality goggles on...