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RuthP's comments:
on Foot Traffic
While we are talking about changes that would increase safety, it sure would be nice if those stop lights that count down the time until the light changes would get consistent. On some, the light changes as soon as the 1 flashes off. On others, the light does not change for another 5-10 seconds. If I stop, knowing that the light is just about to change to yellow and someone behind me knows that there are another 5 seconds before th wellow happens at THIS light, I may get tailgated.
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on Foot Traffic
This is not a threat--simply an observation.
In Don Quihxote, the musical, there is a song where the barber sings "whether the pitcher hits the stone or the stone hits the pitcher, it is going to be bad news for the pitcher."
It seems to me, no matter what the "rights" of the cyclist or pedestrian, if they get hit, it is their body that will forever feel the damage. Getting it sorted out in court later is one thing but dealing with the often permanent damage done by a collision, it is imperative that people anticipate possible dangers and watch very carefully. This being so, I wonder why some folks, especially the young ones, do not exercise more care, especially when they are crossing a 4 lane street where 2-3 lanes opf traffic may be able to see them but seldom the 4th lane?
\And Portland--it is time to give up the black and brown clothing we all wear. When we are walking and cycling we should do everything possible, especially in the long dark rainy nights of winter, to make ourselves visible.
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on Foot Traffic
LOL! Thank you for saying what most of us don't allow ourselves to think. One night at dusk, when it is hardest to see, driving approximately 20 blocks I saw 12 traffic infractions by cyclists--stop signs run, riding on the side walk, riding against the traffic, no signals for turning,no lights front or back, starting to cross an intersection when the light was still red. Why should they be able to do it if cars are not allowed to run a red light if no traffic is coming? Seems liike the reasons for not allowing this are the same for both classes of users of the road.
It scares me to drive anymore. I am so afraid of not seeing someone on a bike or in a pedestrian walk or jay walking. It is so common. One rainy night, I was turning across two busy lanes of traffic onto a dark side street and just as I was in the middle of the oncoming traffic lanes, a woman dressed all in black with her face turned down to the sidewalk stepped into the cross walk. There was nothing about her to catch any of the very low light that there was. I did not see her until I was feet from her and she happened to look up--allowing the light to shine on her face. OMG--I wonder if she was deaf and blind and unable to look both ways before crossing? But my blind friends carry a white stick and listen very closely to hear cars. You can see them. Perhaps she was texting or listening to a radio.
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on Foot Traffic
I don't understand why cyclists are not required to have front lights. If you are getting in or out of a parked car or pulling out from parking, if there is a scyclist coming towards you at night, it can be very hard to see them.
posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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on Bullying in School
I am a psychologist. I got bullied as a kid because we moved a lot and I was the new kid in the school several times a year. However, what we called bullying then might almost be called "Love names" compared to what goes on in the schools now. It is not uncommon for me to be working with teens with anxiety disorders due to the name calling, the whispering and the way the kids will stare or look another kid up and down and then make comments.
I think that bullying has become an accepted way to establish dominance or to demonstrate ones intelligence or humor in our society. I see it on line on a daily basis on list serves. I believe that it has become acceptable because we see it on tv sit coms regularly accompanied by canned laughter and we hear a steady stream of it on talk radio as various hosts try to show their alpha dawg status.
posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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on Cracking Down on Heroin
I am a psychologist with about two decades of work experience. My experience is that heroin addiction is the most difficult drug to beat that there is. In fact for a while I quit taking clients with this problem because of the lack of success I had with them. They would finish therapy, be clean, and six months later be back on the drug. It is a siren song.
There is a new drug out that can be substituted for H quite successfully. The theory is that the person gets a legal (very expensive drug) that blocks the H receptors and then will be weaned off the drug.
Frustratingly, I think a lot of people are getting dependent on the sugstitute and because it is legal, there is not the push to get off the drug. This is a very expensive cost to the health/insurance system. However, I have had a couple of clients who appear to have successfully moved off the drug who are not back to using H.
I have a client in the waiting room and will not be able to follow the discussion.
posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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