Pedestrian safety bricks: surprising crosswalk hack

It thought it was a reference to this (NSFW language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEI8ppiMzZM

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It does sound like the makings of a viral video that would be picked up by Fox and the Daily Mail.

“I was almost carjacked by thugs with bricks, says frightened mum.”

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Bringing a brick to a car fight doesn’t seem like it would give the upper hand.

A brick wall however…

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That’s because in Canada, even threats are polite.

From the Georgia Straight it’s a

a campaign from Vision Zero Vancouver, a citizen-run advocacy group that aims to put an end to traffic-related crashes and deaths on Vancouver streets.

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blinded by their idealism? :wink:

The other day, I saw a car stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and behind that car was a car that was honking it’s horn, so some drivers do have a sense of entitlement that probably contributes to pedestrian deaths. Maybe that honker would be put off by an armed pedestrian.

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Yeah, I did the hoods/trunk thing when I was young guy living near Denman St. in Vancouver. A bit punky I guess but people treated that street like a linear parking lot in those days .

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That’s because they are made of foam.
The point is to increase road safety. Real bricks wouldn’t do that

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The problem I always found with Granville Island is that there are so many tourists driving into what becomes a highly congested environment that isn’t really laid out like a standard road. So they’re distracted, confused and probably fretting about where they’ll park. Having been foolish enough to try it myself a couple of times, I appreciate the messiness that can make wrangling pedestrians one too many things to watch out for. So I park nearby and walk.

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It would sure make a nasty scratch in the paint, though, as the car drove past someone trying to cross. As @werdnagreb pointed out, this isn’t an especially dangerous intersection - just really crowded with lots of stupid tourists not paying attention.

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Why, yes, all the bad drivers WERE white guys.

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I was involved in RTS in the 90s. Good times for a good cause. Very liberating.

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It really sucked when they intimidated, assaulted, threw bricks at you and then jumped on your bike with you to try and intimidate and assault you. The assumption of entitlement to violence when no longer at risk is classic.

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Road rage and distracted driving don’t matter here, someone in both states is going to hit the brick (or pedestrian) anyway. If anything the brick focuses attention, and that’s why you are waving it.

And yes! I’m mostly a pedestrian, and mostly in this fashion. There was about 15 years I didn’t even own a car.

I also have spent much of my life attempting to get crappy and evil people to do what I want, and they don’t think of humans as humans first, generally as obstacles. That’s why the brick works.

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Why not?

Yes, because of the implied threat… hence why road rage is relevant here…

They have a much more dangerous weapon, in that they have a car…

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They have a much more dangerous weapon, in that they have a car…

Thank you!

I still have anger issues after my dad was nearly killed by a distracted driver decades ago. I have learned to self-calm, fortunately.

I also took that lesson and try to be a considerate and careful driver, because I know how a car accident can ruin a life.

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Well, that’s awful! I hope he didn’t have any long term consequences and healed up okay!

But yeah… this whole discussion seems weird to me, especially given the rise in pedestrian deaths in recent years. There are a variety of reasons for it, from greater distractions for drivers, greater sense of division in society, to more cities having more walkable spaces in cities, without also closing off roads to cars… I appreciate the artist trying to bring attention to the issue, but I’m just not convinced this is going to be particularly helpful in doing so?

But maybe this is just a topic that’s gonna cause a fight? @anon87143080, what’s your judgement? Does it belong on “the list”?

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My opinion, carrying bricks, fake or otherwise, is pretty dumb. The Salt Lake City flags method works well and is not at all threatening.

Happy to add.

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But should it be added to the endless arguments list? :thinking:

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