chuck says:

It looked remarkably organized compared to many intersections I’ve seen in China.

Car traffic looked well behaved — compared to the cyclists who simply rode in any direction at any time they liked. The major exception was the truck doing a U-turn.

Pedestrians in NYC have always had an antagonistic relationship with traffic (Hey, I’m walking here!!). They know they could get hurt in an accident, but they also know that the driver will usually get blamed.

It’s not as bad as some 4-way stops I’ve seen where the rules are:

1. For pedestrians: walk whenever you feel like it.
2. For cyclists: don’t stop, don’t signal.
3. For vehicles: stop (or slow down), count to 3 as fast as you can, then go, no matter what.

The Pirate says:

Same old design, same old problems.

One word solution.

Roundabout.

Traaxx says:

What a dip, Uncle DaveStalin must not get out much. There were very few, if any real problems that weren’t caused by bicycles, in the video. Another advocate for a nanny superstate, or just the NAU. The distances look closer from the video than they would in person and no-one was going that fast. The real question is when are pedestrians and bicycles going to begin getting tickets for breaking the law, or have you forgotten that the bicycles were running red lights and the pedestrians were walking against the ‘walk signals’.

Whatever……………………………….
Traaxx

jescott418 says:

I agree with number 2. The cyclists and pedestrians many imes don’t follow the signs and that is a huge problem in a big city. Jay walking, disobeying walk signals are not the fault of motorists. We are a society increasingly thinking rules do not apply to them because they are either wrong or they are in someone restrictive.

bobbo, we think with words, and flower with ideas. says:

Reminds me of the other thread stating that it is insanity to use a 3000 pound machine to haul 1-2 people around. “Cities” do need people movers with commercial vehicles limited to after hours.

I am also reminded of “the Rule” that applies in many foreign countries: go where you want to, just don’t hit anything in front of you. Its remarkable how that system will work but it is almost impossible for anyone used to defensive driving.

alphatango says:

1) The worst was the bikes riding the wrong way. I don’t see what the big deal was with bikes otherwise as long as they don’t surprise and scare pedestrians and motorists.

2) The truck u-turn was rude but not dangerous. They have to assert themselves sometime, otherwise they would never be able to move… The question is, where is the limit?

3) I don’t like the aggressive yielding from the cars. I’m sure those drivers wouldn’t like that done to them if they were a pedestrian.

Using public streets is a publicly accepted risk. People know it’s dangerous but use streets anyhow because the gain outweighs perceived cost. Except when an emotionally tragic event happens like a kid getting killed by a car. Then the public overreacts with outcry and laws when all the while many still die on the interstate in high speed collisions because no one wants to have slow interstates.

Best rules of the road (I think):
-Don’t do anything that negatively impacts another citizen for your benefit.
-Treat others as you’d expect to be treated.
-Avoid creating dangerous situations for others.
(Gee sounds like what we’re supposed to learn as kids doesn’t it?)

Mark III says:

Bicyclists are elite. They don’t have to obey any vehicle laws. They don’t use gasoline, so their lives are more valuable than yours.

denacron says:

This sums up the bicycling quite nicely.

http://tinyurl.com/6g2x5mh

madtruckman says:

Wow… Neat video of people violating trafffic laws… *rolls eyes*