Re:Light Traffic
by craftyguy on Sunday January 14, 2018 @03:51PM
(#16146341)
Interestingly enough, right of way for ships/boats in waterways tends to favor the largest/heaviest over the smallest/lightest. It's oftentimes more dangerous for a larger thing to take evasive action than a smaller thing. I think this should carry over to vehicle/pedestrian right-of-way laws. Pedestrians should assume responsibility for their safety and pay attention (including taking evasive action), just as cyclists should do the same in the presence of cars, and cars should in the presence of semi-trucks, etc. I think that's what you are seeing in The Netherlands. Based on my travels in Europe and Asia, it seems a good portion of the world follows this model, and it's the US that is different.
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Re:Light Traffic
by icebraining on Sunday January 14, 2018 @04:14PM
(#16146505)
Your analogy works for 99% of the road, where cars and bicycles are indeed favored and passengers have to risk their lives to use the same pavement. The whole point of traffic crossings is to provide some exception to this rule, wherein pedestrians can use the street without having to exercise athletic skills and hyper-awareness to avoid getting struck. The whole idea that pedestrians are lighter/nimbler is false anyway - a teenager on a bike will react better than a nonagenarian with a walker or a parent with a four-year-old by their hand.