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Pedestrian Right of Way
updated: Feb 07, 2012, 4:54 PM

By Suzanne Malloy

Pedestrians, watch your back if you try to cross with the "Walk" signal at the Calle Real/La Cumbre stoplight. I had to wait for a second cycle because cars turning right from Calle Real onto La Cumbre refused to stop for me. And when the fourth car in the second cycle finally stopped for me, I had to stop mid-crosswalk for yet another car that totally violated my right-of-way! I hope SBPD continues their pedestrian-in-crosswalk stings.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 254694	2012-02-07 05:30 PM
Umm...Calle Real & La Cumbre don't cross, so there's no light there.
COMMENT 254699	2012-02-07 05:37 PM
694's comment optimizes the mis information spouted on edhat. People who are misinformed stating what they think is fact. Those streets DO cross, the OP was actually there today to verify this removing any doubt. I'm not saying one can't just make a mistake and be wrong, but as with other posts, I thought I would "read" into this and make a bigger deal of it than it really is. Opinion is just that, but when it comes to certain things, there is no room for opinion, i.e. what street crosses what street. Put that in your pipe.
COMMENT 254704	2012-02-07 05:40 PM
694.... YES it does, at the N/W side of the SEARS parking lot. Calle Real IS a problem for Pedestrians... It is dangerous from Las Positias to La Cumbre, ESPECIALLY between Stevens Road and Las Positas as there is no sidewalk- Shame on "green" SB...
COMMENT 254706P	2012-02-07 05:40 PM
They meet by La Cumbre Plaza by the upper parking lot by Sears. I could see that being a bad place to have to cross.
COMMENT 254714	2012-02-07 06:06 PM
I'm not suggesting that you or anyone else do this on La Cumbre or Calle Real unless you're quick, but crossing mid-block can be much safer than crossing at an intersection. At the latter, as you experienced, you have to deal with turning cars as well as straight-through traffic, and turning drivers often don't look both ways, they only look in the direction that cars would be approaching them. This is especially true on the one-way streets. There, if you want to cross at an intersection, always try to do so upstream of the one-way traffic, otherwise you have both right- and left-turners bearing down on you. And if you do cross mid-block, be aware of people coming out of driveways and on-street parking spaces. Basically, it's a jungle out there and pedestrians are at the bottom of the food chain.
COMMENT 254716	2012-02-07 06:10 PM
Thanks Phin - I always hoped I wouldn't get in trouble for crossing mid-block, but I find it so much safer in most areas.
COMMENT 254719	2012-02-07 06:18 PM
I work off of Calle Real and exit the 101 on La Cumbre, so I turn through this intersection multiple times a day (yes, it exists). It's even difficult to make that turn from La Cumbre onto Calle Real as it's not a protected turn. This is probably why the cars are ignoring the ped xing. Not that it makes it ok, but I think having it be a protected turn would improve things.
COMMENT 254721	2012-02-07 06:26 PM
694 here. Oops--you're right--they DO cross. I was thinking of Calle Real where it crosses State Street, forgetting about the other end of La Cumbre. Hey #699--no need to be snarky. I made a mistake. Calm down. Talk about over-reaction!
COMMENT 254727	2012-02-07 06:44 PM
When you start a comment with Umm, you sound condescending.
BIPOLARESQUE	2012-02-07 06:49 PM
maybe the police could hang out there for a bit... ticket crosswalk violators AND the drivers who always turn left out of the sears driveway... turn left right past the "NO LEFT TURN" sign. or perhaps it is a "RIGHT TURN ONLY" sign. pretty sure that detail is irrelevant.
COMMENT 254737	2012-02-07 07:09 PM
I live in Ventura and cross the EB 126 off ramp at Kimball, which is controlled for traffic exiting the freeway turning left and for traffic exiting Kimball turning right. The right turn is 'green' most of the time, unless the walk sign is activated by a pedestrian. When the green walk sign is activated, off ramp traffic gets a flashing yellow light on the ramp and the light is red at the intersection. Do you know how many times I've almost been run down in the crosswalk? MANY times - so many times I no longer bother with the walk sign, which only seems to 'up the ante'. Gads, peds are ON THEIR OWN - watch yourself. Defense crossing is like defense driving. Can't expect the other guy to be on the ball. Take care of yourself, even if that mean kamikaze crossing. Peace, banzai!
MACPUZL	2012-02-07 07:11 PM
A bit off-topic, but if you want to describe a location around here, north is generally toward the mountains, and south is toward the ocean. Calle Real borders the southwest side of La Cumbre Plaza, where it intersects with S La Cumbre, which borders the west of the plaza.
COMMENT 254754	2012-02-07 08:09 PM
That is not an intersection that anyone would recommend walking across because it is so dangerous - cars don't stop when they should stop for peds, but of course it's the peds who always lose when they go up against a big ol' car or truck or mobile home.
SBJULES	2012-02-07 08:28 PM
I don't think jay walking is ever a good thing.
COMMENT 254807	2012-02-08 06:55 AM
If you are going to cross an intersection like that, what you do is before you start walking you turn and give the evil eye to the people who want to mow you down from behind. Walk with a pair of those metal trekking poles, too. If you hold them so them might scratch their car if they get too close, they'll give you plenty of room. People care about their paint jobs more than your life.
PROGRESS	2012-02-08 07:53 AM
SBHikes, I LOVE your idea...time to get my Lekis out!
COMMENT 254881	2012-02-08 08:47 AM
SBHIKES is onto something. Last time I had to cross there I had my camera on a tripod over my shoulder and never felt threatened as I crossed. Perhaps they were curious about what I was carrying and the back of their primitive reptilian minds warned them that I was not a "soft target". The idea of making eye contact with the driver coming at you is essential. People "feel" it when someone is eyeballing them and subconsciously look to see who or what it is. Of course this doesn't work if they are on the phone.
COMMENT 254893P	2012-02-08 08:58 AM
Hmmm.... Now I'm thinking of a new product idea: a nail-studded "porcupine suit" for pedestrians. "Sure, you can run me over, but I'll mess up your paint job on the way down!"
COMMENT 255009	2012-02-08 11:08 AM
This is a dangerous intersection and if coming off the freeway and there's a green light, watch out pedestrians. It's too far to walk to another intersection. SBPD should watch this intersection.
COMMENT 255053	2012-02-08 12:36 PM
Before you step in front of a moving car, you should look at the driver and be sure he sees you. Don't hurl yourself in front of a moving car to somehow make a stand for pedestrian rights. Giving drivers dirty looks will get you in a deadly game of chicken. I can barely drive around state st, without a kamikaze pedestrian darting in front of my car. Let's all use some common sense.
PROGRESS	2012-02-08 01:02 PM
053, we're not referring to the kamikaze pedestrians darting in front of your car. We're talking about legally crossing at a light with the "walk" signal, waiting to make eye contact, and still being held up mid-crosswalk by other drivers who are in too much of hurry to pay attention to cars already stopped for the pedestrian. I agree that all pedestrians must act responsibly; and all drivers must be aware of the potentially deadly consequences of not paying attention!

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