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Drivers: Be courteous to bicyclists, pedestrians
I'm writing in response to the article, "Police pose as pedestrians to nab errant drivers."
I've been meaning to address the issue of pedestrian safety and discourteous drivers in Lodi for a long time.
I know well the law that pedestrians have the right of way if in a crosswalk. However, as a bicyclist and pedestrian in Lodi, I have found that few drivers know of this law, or if they do know of this law, they don't care. It shouldn't even have to be a law; it's common courtesy to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross, especially in a crosswalk, especially in the rain, especially in the heat. I know that I must be off my bike for a car to have to stop for me in a crosswalk. It doesn't bother me to wait for a clearance in traffic when on my bike, but I've encountered some really discourteous drivers in Lodi.
Just recently I was in a crosswalk, off my bike, bags full of groceries hanging from my handle bars, the temperature over 95 degrees and nobody would stop for me on Lodi Avenue and then again while crossing Ham Lane. I can't change their behavior, but I certainly think the Lodi Police Department needs to address this issue. I've been pulled over on my bicycle and hassled by the Lodi Police Department three times. Why? I always wondered how many suspended drivers were driving by or how many people were trying to cross in a crosswalk while those police were focused on me and other bicyclists.
Please, Lodi drivers, try to be courteous to those of us who are bicyclists and pedestrians.
Patricia Hadsall
Lodi

Reader Feedback
girard74 wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:07 PM:
While pedestrians do have the right of way and bicycles that have no motors also fall into that same category, there is no doubt that although they may be legally right as they step into that crosswalk in front of motor vehicles that should stop for them, they will ultimately lose the war if they get hit.
All it really takes is a little attention paid to what is going on outside of the confines of our cars. Unfortunately it usually takes a tragedy for many of us to wake up. "
Jeff wrote on Jul 22, 2008 9:12 AM:
educated reader wrote on Jul 22, 2008 1:19 AM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 21, 2008 7:36 PM:
cj wrote on Jul 21, 2008 7:27 PM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 21, 2008 6:37 PM:
cj wrote on Jul 21, 2008 3:56 PM:
girard74 wrote on Jul 21, 2008 3:21 PM:
Wow! What's with all of the prognosticating on these boards?!? Is it something in the Lodi water that gives certain people this incredible power of clairvoyance? If it's a special brand of beer or wine, then please someone tell me where I can get a bottle or two!! "
cj wrote on Jul 21, 2008 2:58 PM:
cj wrote on Jul 21, 2008 2:58 PM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 21, 2008 1:08 PM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 21, 2008 1:00 PM:
wtf wrote on Jul 21, 2008 11:04 AM:
cj wrote on Jul 21, 2008 10:56 AM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 21, 2008 10:51 AM:
Cogito wrote on Jul 21, 2008 10:47 AM:
girard74 wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:44 AM:
While I agree with the majority of your letter, Ms. Hadsall, you raise an interesting question that you failed to answer: why have you been pulled over by the police three times and hassled? Surely they gave you a reason for their actions; would you mind sharing them with us. I believe they might be relevant to your intentions behind this letter to the editor. "
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