Crosswalk Sting Operation

Jeff Higgins · 04-04-2008, 07:58 AM

I had the opportunity to watch something just a little bit amusing the other day. Three motorcycle cops hiding behind a fence, with one of their buddies in plain clothes, walking back and forth accross a clearly marked crosswalk on a neighborhood through street. No light or stop sign, but one of the big crosswalk signs and fresh white paint on the street.

I was riding the old Sportster to a vintage bike club meeting, was early, and had some time to kill. So I pulled into a church parking lot up the road a bit and watched. Just amazing. The undercover pedestrian sure proved to be an inconvenience to some folks; honking horns, flipping him off, yelling out the window, swerving instead of stopping, and on and on.

The vast majority of people could not be bothered to stop. I happened to (and since I was on a bike so he could easily talk to me) the guy actually thanked me, then pointed to his buddies behind the fence. I laughed like hell. He said "this is way too easy...", so I asked if he would mind if I went down the road a block or so and watched. No problem. When I pulled out, I waved and gave him a thumbs up, and he waved back.

I just can't believe the selfishness, callousness, and behind-the-wheel bravado the ass holes of this world are capable of demonstrating. I hope they got some very big fines...

onewhippedpuppy · 04-04-2008, 08:02 AM

Not a lot of crime in Lynnwood, is there?

Neilk · 04-04-2008, 08:12 AM

Well if there is little or no traffic, why would someone INSIST of stepping in front of a car to cross the street instead of waiting for the car to pass? It would only cost the pedestrian 10 seconds for the car to pass.

I do have to say though, that there is no excuse for people cursing out others for inconveniencing them.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Lol!

HardDrive · 04-04-2008, 08:25 AM

People are pretty good about stopping he in Seattle, especially at the bike trail crossings. There will always be jerks. Same people that ding your doors in the parking lot.

john walker's workshop · 04-04-2008, 08:50 AM

they don't stop much on my street. mothers with baby carriages sitting there waiting while 20 cars pass by. i do think that people need to make themselves more visible to the drivers, rather than stand back behind parked cars like they often do. i stop when i see someone from a block away, but when you finally see them about 10 feet away it's too late to stop in most cases.

LakeCleElum · 04-04-2008, 08:57 AM

Jeff - I was at the Vintage Meeting - Didn't see you but there was a pretty big crowd this month. I was there an hour + early and left when the meeting was over. Maybe you stayed outside and kicked tires? At least I rode a bike this month and didn't drive the 73.5 like last time I saw you there....

Oh, and I stopped at all the crosswalks that day too!

cashflyer · 04-04-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilk

Well if there is little or no traffic, why would someone INSIST of stepping in front of a car to cross the street instead of waiting for the car to pass?

It's called revenue generation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

He said "this is way too easy..."

Jeff Higgins · 09:08 AM

Nope, not a lot of crime in Lynnwood. And while I agree that some jerks will step out defiantly into traffic because they can, this guy was not doing that. It's a pretty busy street. Waiting for a long enough break in traffic to cross could take awhile, especially at the time of day (late rush hour) they were set up. He was basically just stepping off the curb, no where near into traffic to force a stop (there is actually a bike lane between the sidewalk and traffic lanes), and letting the driver make the choice to stop for him or not. No one was forced to swerve, slam on their brakes, or whatever. They were all given plenty of time and space. Some, however, felt somehow compelled to swerve, slam on their brakes, yell, and make a scene. The vast majority I saw simply drove on past like he wasn't even there. And got stopped for it. I'm hoping the ones that made a scene got an extra special ticket for their extra special efforts.

I'm all for this kind of enforcement. I think it's far more valuable than the same three bike cops sitting with a radar gun popping folks for five over on some busy arterial, or out on a lonely back road, or on the freeway. I don't mind them enforcing traffic laws in densly populated neighborhoods. Including sitting between houses with a radar gun, enforcing the 25 mph limit. I believe such enforcement honestly does increase safety, unlike the state patrol sitting on an overpass nailing folks doing ten over; not a lot of pedestrians to hit out there.

Edit:

Hey Bob, I looked for you and didn't see you. I was around the corner of the bar, back by the restrooms. My bike was out by the curb. It's the red Sporty in the background.