Pedestrians Stepping into Dearborn PBL

Most of us who use this PBL have probably experienced a pedestrian stepping in front of us against the light.  Now, there are a lot of words that might come out of your mouth in that situation.  The ones that I prefer to use now are, "Please look up! Please don't get hurt!"

After I said this a few nights ago, the woman who stepped in front of me actually smiled and confessed that she had perhaps had one too many drinks.  We then had a friendly conversation.

On some occasions, I've also said nothing, and just ridden up to the person standing in the PBL and stared at them silently.  Sometimes they've done nothing; other times they've realized that my light is green, theirs is red, and then jumped back on the sidewalk, sometimes smiling or apologizing.

Your strategies?  Your results?

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Permalink Reply by Jack Crowe on June 14, 2013 at 8:11am

"HEAD'S UP!" is still my favorite. My results are usually a look of surprise or a quick scurry to either side. Still doesn't work through some people's headphones, but I don't want to yell louder. 

Permalink Reply by Jerry Lee on June 14, 2013 at 8:22am

today, after the rally, I used it to go home. My 1st time seeing this, like the light for the bikes too. Didn't have no trouble with peds.

Permalink Reply by SlowCoachOnTheRoad on June 14, 2013 at 8:41am

I've said "Watch Out!" "Woops!" "Close One!" "Grrr" and even "@$%@$#^@%#^" but I moved on too quickly to find out the results, sorry.

Permalink Reply by David P. on June 14, 2013 at 8:52am

I usually shout, "heads up!" The other evening I had a totally oblivious conference attendee bolt right out in front of me on Kinzie at Wells (it was close enough that other pedestrians gasped) - her eyes fixated on a car in the main lane - and I shouted "NO!" in what I later realized was my best "bad dog!" voice. This thought made me laugh a little, though she wouldn't have been laughing id I'd decked her. It was only luck that I didn't.

Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on June 14, 2013 at 8:57am
Yell:

"No Brakes!!!!"

Works every time!!!!
Permalink Reply by Mark on June 14, 2013 at 9:17am

There was a taxi in the lane this morning approaching Madison.  Given the parked cars, he must've driven the whole block in the lane.  I was walking and a biker started swearing at the cabbie.  I always avoid profanity if I want to be taken seriously by others. 

Permalink Reply by Julia 3.5/7.5 mi on June 14, 2013 at 10:10am

ahahahaha I might try that. I'm partial to "HEADS UP!" and ringing my bell. Saw a guy with an airzound a few weeks ago - he managed to get the attention of people crossing against the light on Lake St, as a train was going overhead.

bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) said:

Yell:

"No Brakes!!!!"

Works every time!!!!
Permalink Reply by David P. on June 15, 2013 at 6:27am

...or a stuck pig. Noisy brakes seem to be a great attention-getter and they say "bike" to most people.

Jeff Schneider said:

No toe-in?  So that your brakes scream like the siren on a Stuka divebomer?

h' 1.0 said:

I think I have ridden it all of two times outside of Critical Mass, and each time I had multiple instances of pedestrians stepping into it, obviously lost in thought, as if they were stepping onto a fluffy marshmallow cloud where no harm can possibly come to you.... or just standing in it as if they were happily enjoying the wading pool at the water park...

My suggestion would be to make sure you have no toe-in on your front brakes....

Permalink Reply by Agnieszka Z. on June 15, 2013 at 9:38am
I ring the bell, but it's what comes after it that I am coming to realize is most effective in the long run: "Thank you!" To that, people often say, "Thank you!" Or "You're welcome!" And I'd like to think a positive association with bikers is being formed.
Permalink Reply by Madeline on June 15, 2013 at 5:29pm

was in downtown on Dearborn right before Jackson and this Elderly woman was standing dead on in the bike lane as I was crossing? Do I swerve and go to into the left lane at the risk of oncoming traffic? Do I Slam on Breaks? Yell a head of time? Tickets for standing in the bike lane? Suggestions! 

Permalink Reply by Maurice on June 15, 2013 at 6:42pm
Since I'm not convinced that most of them even recognize that they're standing in a bike lane, I usually yell, "This is a bike lane!" If they move, I say, "Thank you." If they don't move, I sometimes say...something else.

This past week, I encountered a bicycle blocking the lane, so I slowed down and demonstratively said, "Et tu, biker?" I don't think he got the reference.
Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on June 16, 2013 at 8:13am

I am that rude air horn guy. No apologies. Otherwise it is just allstop right before hitting them and saying "Wow, that was close" with a smile.

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