Southern thing or not?

[james'mommy]

Let me start by saying I am a Northerner trapped in the South. Something I noticed here that I never did up north was the fact that they stop for every single pedestrian here. It takes me 5 minutes to get from 1 end of the parking lot to the other. Pedestrians just assume that every car is going to stop for them and just walk right out into the street. I'm all for stopping at the crosswalk. Personally I look for the road to be clear and then cross the road in a hurried fashion. People here cross the street so damn slowly. I grew up in a place where you learned to run across the street or you would get run down.

 

[legalsea]

Let me start by saying I am a Northerner trapped in the South. Something I noticed here that I never did up north was the fact that they stop for every single pedestrian here. It takes me 5 minutes to get from 1 end of the parking lot to the other. Pedestrians just assume that every car is going to stop for them and just walk right out into the street. I'm all for stopping at the crosswalk. Personally I look for the road to be clear and then cross the road in a hurried fashion. People here cross the street so damn slowly. I grew up in a place where you learned to run across the street or you would get run down.

Hmm. I wonder if that is more of a local, Charlotte, thing (crossing the street slowly).

Of course, in New York City people do tend, I guess, to cross more quickly, but they also keep in a huge group. Driving in Manhatten was very frustrating since it seemed like the crowd of people crossing the street was neverending, even after the 'don't walk' light was on.

 

[glitterkittyy]

Are you still planning on plowing them down if they don't use the crosswalk?

 

[RunningGirl]

Funny, because I'm grew up in the north and live in the south and have observed the OPPOSITE. I grew up in a suburb that was very pedestrian friendly. I've been amazed here at drivers ignoring cross walks and not letting people cross the drive into the store, even when it's raining!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Are you still planning on plowing them down if they don't use the crosswalk?

you are EVERYWHERE!!

 

[glitterkittyy]

you are EVERYWHERE!!

You can't shut me up, can ya?

 

[Briarmom]

I am a Northerner forced to live in the South and I haven't noticed a difference.

Oops, by that I mean both places stop for pedestrians.

 

[just4today]

Let me start by saying I am a Northerner trapped in the South.

First of all, let me just say "bless your heart." I'm so sorry you have to live under those conditions.

Pedestrians just assume that every car is going to stop for them and just walk right out into the street.

Don't pedestrians always have the right of way? Thus, the people who stop are simply obeying the law? Maybe that's why they assume drivers will stop for them.

 

[ead79]

Yep, here's another "bless your heart" for all the Northerners trapped down here in the South.

Living in the Atlanta area, let me just say that no one around here drives slowly. Sometimes people stop for pedestrians (like in grocery store parking lots), and other times they don't. I personally look before crossing.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Where I live, pedestrians have the right of way.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

First of all, let me just say "bless your heart." I'm so sorry you have to live under those conditions.



Don't pedestrians always have the right of way? Thus, the people who stop are simply obeying the law? Maybe that's why they assume drivers will stop for them.

As a pedestrian who frequently crosses a southern road, I have noticed that the cars that have to slow down for me to cross are often going way faster than they should be.

A friend from NY recently complained to me about how people in our town never stop for pedestrians. It's gotten bad enough the local police dept. has been ticketing for failure to yield.

 

[LUVMYTINK]

I am a Northerner forced to live in the South and I haven't noticed a difference.

Me too & I even married one too.

I don't really notice a difference here, I guess it's cause it's a military town so half the town are from other states, north and south.

I do notice, though, at stores that have the ped. crossing sign that tells you to yield for pedestrians it's a crap shoot on if they stop or not.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Let me start by saying I am a Northerner trapped in the South. Something I noticed here that I never did up north was the fact that they stop for every single pedestrian here. It takes me 5 minutes to get from 1 end of the parking lot to the other. Pedestrians just assume that every car is going to stop for them and just walk right out into the street. I'm all for stopping at the crosswalk. Personally I look for the road to be clear and then cross the road in a hurried fashion. People here cross the street so damn slowly. I grew up in a place where you learned to run across the street or you would get run down.

I would run them over and then they'd learn. I don't have time for that.

 

[Golf4food]

It takes me 5 minutes to get from 1 end of the parking lot to the other.

'Round hea pedestrians have the right of way in parking lots.

 

[Wendy31]

I haven't read all the posts, but maybe the people who have been crossing the street slowly have a hidden disability.

Ahem...


Or maybe they're just slow.

It's the air down here, ya'll.

 

[Sanchez]

Let me start by saying I am a Northerner trapped in the South. Something I noticed here that I never did up north was the fact that they stop for every single pedestrian here. It takes me 5 minutes to get from 1 end of the parking lot to the other. Pedestrians just assume that every car is going to stop for them and just walk right out into the street. I'm all for stopping at the crosswalk. Personally I look for the road to be clear and then cross the road in a hurried fashion. People here cross the street so damn slowly. I grew up in a place where you learned to run across the street or you would get run down.

You seem to yearn for those days.

 

[EMom]

Yep, here's another "bless your heart" for all the Northerners trapped down here in the South.

Living in the Atlanta area, let me just say that no one around here drives slowly. Sometimes people stop for pedestrians (like in grocery store parking lots), and other times they don't. I personally look before crossing.

For variety's sake, I'll toss in a "Lord love 'em......"

 

[clarabelle]

I park in the back of parking lots and drive out the entrance that does NOT make me have to drive by the front entrance of the store -if at all possible.

 

[glitterkittyy]

For variety's sake, I'll toss in a "Lord love 'em......"

You're not allowed to talk about religion.

 

[mjkacmom]

People don't even stop for people trying to cross in a crosswalk. However, there are a few towns here with very affluent neighborhoods, and they let you cross. I always try to stop at a crosswalk if someone is waiting to cross, and they usually look surprised, but grateful, even if I have to endure the honking behind me! I remember one old guy stopping his car in the costco lot, and letting me cross in front, and he said "take your time - you have the right of way!"