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Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by SECProto on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @01:23AM (#17865883)
By that measure, we shouldn't have crosswalks at intersections, and walkers should walk into the street, past the right turn lane, to avoid turning conflict.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by joncrocks on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @04:45AM (#17866747)
In most countries in Europe (certainly in the UK, and other places I have visited), pedestrians have a separate crossing phase to the rest of traffic.

The US is unusual in expecting pedestrians to cross while traffic is also trying to negotiate an intersection.

Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by gambiting on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @04:54AM (#17866791)
In some EU countries(Poland) pedestrians have a green light to go, even though cars turning right also have a green light - cars are expected to watch out for pedestrians crossing, even when they have a green light to go.

I live in UK and the part of the traffic codex that seems to be unknown to literally all British drivers is the one that says "pedestrians have priority over cars making a turn" - so if you are crossing a road near an intersection and a car is making a turn into that road you are just crossing, you have absolute priority even in the absence of a designated crossing - but drivers get really upset and honk and wave as if you are in their way.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-...

"watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way"

Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by nothrabannosir on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @06:00AM (#17867029)
> part of the traffic codex that seems to be unknown to literally all British drivers is the one that says "pedestrians have priority over cars making a turn"

They have a very efficient system for reminding fellow road users, though. Two fingers in the air slightly apart, a pedestrian’s walking legs upside down, indicating the priority reversal.

People are generally very receptive to this, because it is quintessentially British to understand you have to live together harmoniously to get ahead in life.

Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by teddyh on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @06:12AM (#17867072)
Please don’t spread dangerous misinformation, even as a joke.

Note to non-UK-residents: The described gesture is, in fact, a very rude insulting gesture:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign#As_an_insult

Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by watermanio on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @07:01AM (#17867251)
> dangerous misinformation

Oh come on, making a V sign is not dangerous. Most likely, someone shouts an original insult to you.

Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by glenneroo on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @07:36AM (#17867404)
I've been followed home and threatened in the US for giving a driver who was tailgating the middle finger. Are you saying that in the UK this would never happen? I certainly wouldn't risk provoking random strangers, especially those who are not following traffic codex.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by Plasmoid2000ad on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @09:10AM (#17867919)
Very unlikely. Fuels costs are way too high for anyone in the UK to consider diverting from their regular commute.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by justincormack on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @08:44AM (#17867763)
I think pedestrians have priority almost all the time on UK roads but drivers don't care.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by n4r9 on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @10:25AM (#17868413)
Wow! All along I'd been thinking that those pedestrians who cross near a junction with barely more than a glance over their shoulder were reckless and unjustified. Now I guess I think it's just reckless.
Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by distances on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @07:39AM (#17867414)
> In most countries in Europe (certainly in the UK, and other places I have visited), pedestrians have a separate crossing phase to the rest of traffic.

I don't have numbers but I think this is the other way around: UK is the exception while most of Europe have pedestrians cross with turning traffic.

As a pedestrian I prefer the "normal" way of sharing the crossing with turning cars. In UK you'll have to wait for a way too long time for the pedestrian green light, and as a result (?) people cross pretty regularly against the red light. This is the case for London at least -- could also be that people are just more impatient in such a crowded metropolis.

Re:How the Dutch created a casual biking culture by u801e on Wednesday August 29, 2018 @06:30AM (#17867135)
There's a difference between a pedestrian moving at 3 to 6 mph and a cyclist going 10 to 20 mph. This is why crossing intersections as a pedestrian at cyclist speeds is much more hazardous to cyclists (compared to pedestrians moving at typical pedestrian speeds) because drivers don't expect someone moving that fast when they're making a turn across a crosswalk.