beckie moriello ([info]beckiemoriello) wrote,
@ 2008-12-08 23:58:00
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Dear People who Walk/Bike Along the Highway at Night Without Reflective Clothing,

WTF ARE YOU THINKING?!?! DO YOU KNOW THAT I PERPETUALLY ALMOST KILL YOU???

Sincerely,
Beckie

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[info]pants_of_doom
2008-12-09 04:31 pm UTC (link)
We're thinking, "people in cars need to be more careful."

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[info]beckiemoriello
2008-12-09 04:40 pm UTC (link)
Hmm... I consider myself a proponent of sharing the road. Which I believe means that it's everyone's job to take everyone else into account.

I would think that a walker/cyclist would realize that a car, driving the speed limit, wouldn't see them at night until they're practically on top of them, unless said walker/cyclist were wearing something reflective.

Of course drivers need to be careful. But I don't think reasonable caution entails driving well below the speed limit on the off-chance someone dressed in black will suddenly appear 2 feet from your car.

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[info]pants_of_doom
2008-12-09 06:45 pm UTC (link)
As a biker and pedestrian who wears black a lot, I hardly ever think about visibility because I can see other people who are wearing black. I also live in a major urban area where the streets are well-lit. I'm not disagreeing with you, I do have lights and reflectors for biking and stay on the sidewalk when walking, but "reasonable caution" looks a lot different when your perspective is that occasionally a car buzzes past way too close and most people seem to be able to avoid you without trouble.

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[info]beckiemoriello
2008-12-10 04:33 am UTC (link)
Yeah we're talking about completely different scenarios, as evidenced by the fact that you think it's relevant that you can see other people who are wearing black. I'm driving 50-60mph on a mostly unlit highway. Sure, I see these people who are wearing black when I'm as close to them as you are. But by that point, I'm 1 second from killing them.

My guess is that the cars buzzing too close to you have seen you and are choosing not to slow down and give you more room.

The point of my post is that, in the specific scenario I've described, even a considerate driver such as myself might accidentally kill someone. There are indisputably lots of inconsiderate drivers. However, that doesn't mean that *all* Walker/Cyclist vs. Car incidents are the driver's fault. My guess is that most are. But really, walking 2ft from an unlit highway at night w/o reflectors?! We've got to draw the line somewhere.

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a comment from facebook
[info]beckiemoriello
2008-12-10 04:09 am UTC (link)
Um, that would be me. Almost all of my cold-weather clothes are black or dark brown.

To my credit, when it's REALLY dark, I wear a reflective armband. And when it's raining, too, I snap a flashing light on my shoulder. But my logic's pretty much that if I'm running well out on the shoulder, somebody'd already have to have gotten five feet off the road before they hit me. At which point, really, we've got other issues.

Also: hi.

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Re: a comment from facebook
[info]beckiemoriello
2008-12-10 04:19 am UTC (link)
Apparently I need to be more clear with my original post. I am irked at those who walk/ride:

1) at night (ie. in the dark)
2) w/o reflectors or lights

I see people with reflective things. No problem there.

Also, yeah, if you're running 5ft off the road, I've never come close to killing you. The people I'm talking about are much closer than that.

PS. Hi!!! Drop me a line whenever UNC lets you come up for air.

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