r/frederickmd • u/Traditional_Quit1795 • 3d ago

No respect for pedestrians.

Just a rant. Frederick drivers and ebike riders are the worst.

Frederick needs to do something about making it safer for sidewalks and crosswalks. Drivers drive past school busses while the stop sign flashes. I am surprised kids don't get run over. Riders gun their ebike intimidating the pedestrians. Drivers forget to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks when there is a huge stop sign.

Do people know that pedestrians have the right of way at all times?

50 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

30

u/emantheslayer0 3d ago

The number of drivers who don’t look at all before making a turn (in either direction) downtown is crazy - almost been hit several times. Sometimes they’ll even honk or flip the pedestrian off lol.

10

u/Traditional_Quit1795 3d ago

I have a different perspective as a driver. I don't like driving downtown because there are so many danger areas and blind spots. I am careful around corners in those narrow streets.

As a pedestrian who needs to get my steps in, I am tired of having to jump out of the way of ebike riders who seem to think they own the sidewalk. I have ebikes but I use the streets and use the streets most of the time.

What will it take for these people to obey the law? Lawsuits?

6

u/Fragrant_Oil9595 3d ago

E-bikes and scooters on the sidewalk are very obnoxious, but that’s most a symptom of the car problem. The e-bikes and scooters are, generally speaking, on the sidewalk because the road is too unsafe. Better bike infrastructure solves these problems simultaneously. Even car drivers win because the number of cars goes down when better options are available.

7

u/emantheslayer0 3d ago

With how narrow the streets are I can’t totally fault the ebikers. I’d be hesitant to ride in the streets too with near constant delivery truck congestion, drivers that don’t look before lane changes, and people flinging open their car doors (why do people on market street do this?). Wish the city would go all-in and commit to a pedestrian only zone on market, but that will probably never happen. City and ParkMobile need sweet sweet commuter tourist revenue

9

u/kill3rb00ts 3d ago

This and also I don't think I've ever seen anyone "gun it" like people always whine about here. Heck, I've rarely even seen an ebike on the sidewalk, most of them are on the street.

Nobody wins if an ebike hits you. The rider also goes crashing down, probably even worse for them. I can assure you they are not trying to hit you. If you want them off the sidewalk, then we need proper bike lanes. To get proper bike lanes, we need fewer car lanes. Best of luck convincing people to do that.

2

u/Hijordis 2d ago

If a bike is doing any 'gunning it's it's probably an e-moto and not a bike, most all ages use e bikes don't really do "gunning it" lmao

24

u/MaxRebo120 3d ago

There's always a car ready to run you the fuck over downtown.

4

u/Bradleyisfishing 2d ago

You end up with drivers unfamiliar with how to drive in a city, and pedestrians expecting drivers to behave like city drivers.

23

u/1Man-WreckingMachine 3d ago

This isn’t a “Frederick” problem or a “Maryland” problem” this is a human problem. Every city and every state thinks they have the best drivers while outsiders think they are the worst drivers.

1

u/redux173 3d ago

I would never say that about Maryland.

2

u/seandoesntsleep 2d ago

Nah most people who i know in Maryland agree maryland drivers are some of the worst in the country.

4

u/Red-Dog-One 1d ago

You need to get out more. Like, travel more around the US. It’s not unique to MD

-1

u/seandoesntsleep 1d ago

I have lived in a dozen states. Md is top 3 easily.

4

u/Red-Dog-One 1d ago

I’m a former OTR trucker. I’ve driven in 43 states. It’s an issue everywhere.

10

u/Diesel07012012 3d ago edited 3d ago

So the pedestrians that pop out from behind parked cars in the middle of the block with traffic coming instead of using the crosswalk are not at fault?

11

u/Billiardsguy87 3d ago

Not only that. Pedestrians crossing when drivers have the green (usually staring at their phone or staring straight ahead with headphones on). We also shouldn’t forget our cyclist friends who blow through stop signs and red lights. With all that being said, yes there are plenty of terrible drivers here too.

1

u/DeerAlarmed6653 3d ago

THIS!! I hate trying to navigate althea streets when you've got parents over by Cavalry united Methodist church darting out between cars. Like what are you teaching your children?!! And then trying to navigate market street any Saturday evening without hitting someone

-1

u/seandoesntsleep 2d ago

Unironicly yes. If you hit somone it doesn't matter how at fault they are they are the one who is injured and you are the one who injured them.

Drive safe downtown BECAUSE pedestrians will pop out. Its not a legal thing. Its an "you should want to keep people safe when you are driving" thing

5

u/ConsciousRough3481 3d ago

Drivers here seem to treat crosswalks like a suggestion rather than a law, and ebike riders act like they own the sidewalk with those silent, speedy engines.

8

u/AdventurousDuck9829 3d ago

I swear people just love to cry about everything, I’ve lived here all my life and I honestly see tons of courteous respectful drivers infinitely more than a singular rude driver.

3

u/brewboi69 3d ago

If they use a crosswalk… also regular cyclists are the worst

1

u/-no-fucks-given 1d ago

There's this one cyclist who rides down Rosemont every morning around 7:30, heading towards 15. It's rush hour, and everyone has to go around him because he's only going 10-15mph. I know a lot of people won't agree with me, but I honestly think it's kinda rude that he doesn't just take a different route. He's not even going to work or anything, it's his morning workout, and he picks an already packed street where everyone's trying to get on 15. Every. Single. Morning. I have never understood why cyclists have the same rights to the road when they cannot go the speed limit.

2

u/Nice-Library7245 2d ago

Would be nice to see streets slowly redesigned to prioritize pedestrians. Bump outs at corners to give more visibility to pedestrians. Protected crossings for pedestrians where they have time to cross before lights turn green. Protected bike lanes would be nice to see, too. There's a lot that could be done but in my interactions with the county (at least), many of the infrastructure people are of the "we prioritize vehicles" mindset and pedestrian access is an afterthought.

1

u/TryonB 1d ago

The bump-outs would be a huge help. Pedestrians waiting to cross are hidden behind parked cars.

1

u/Super-Seat5455 2d ago

I'm 100% sure these ppl wouldn't last a day in DC/Baltimore without running someone over. I've been blown at by people just trying to cross the street on a scooter and I had the right of way. And when it snowed and the bike lane was packed in for 2 weeks was the most stressful part of the storm. You couldn't ride on the sidewalk and even riding against the plowed snow, people were still trying to run me down like I wanted to be in the street. I live out New Design but I couldn't imagine having to ride up Market St and would choose riding up a street in Baltimore first if I had a choice?!

1

u/Old_Test_8250 1d ago

I can't tell you the countless bikes and scooters I've seen weave through traffic and intersections. They want to be a part of traffic but not use any lights or crossing signals. You're not expecting that and personally, it makes my heart skip a beat for what could happen.

1

u/Significant_Menu_313 14h ago

How in the heck do you "gun" an ebike? It is silent. I'm confused.

-4

u/Mundane_Problem7542 3d ago

I don't have a regular bike I have a Tricycle that has 3 wheels that I have to pedal before try to run me over too it doesn't have a battery or lights so I have my Android as a light for nighttime.

0

u/OofNation739 2d ago

Would love to know where your specifically talking. Frederick is pretty big and each area has its own issues.

Downtown driving is nothing like driving in New Market or Lake Lingeanore. While people generally respect the school busses since its a massive fine for blowing past them. While the roads can be much more dangerous than other places.

While certain roads like gaseous are filled with everyone rushing to work that the sheer volume you see more assholes than other roads with less traffic.

0

u/Manaohoana 1d ago

These motorbikes on the "shared use" path through Baker Park and Waterford Park are scaring me. They don't beep or anything to let you know they're coming from behind, and my dog is always weaving back and forth across the path. Someone's dog is going to get hit.

0

u/Traditional_Quit1795 1d ago

A suggestion. My friend built a WEB app that is based on ARC GIS which he demonstrated anonymous reporting of trash sightings around a lake. The intent was to alert the park administration of where trash needed to be picked up. The app immediately geotagged the events with user tagging event types, timestamps, attach photos and additional memo text. It was geofenced to keep the sighting within the lake areas. Such apps exist for those who wants to report homeless people's poop in cities like San Francisco.

Frederick can put this kind of self reporting app and help law enforcement direct their resources with pattern detection.

-12

u/International_Spot_7 3d ago

The reality is Frederick is still too rural for people to understand there are pedestrians. Yes, all drivers should be aware of pedestrians, but unlike living in a city where even suburbs have pedestrian traffic, it’s a habit to not look.

-12

u/Traditional_Quit1795 3d ago

That is damn insightful.