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Crossing road when children around?
gracie83
Posts: 301 Forumite
I am wondering what others think about how they should cross roads when there are children crossing the road too.
The situation is always the same. Mother, usually a push chair and one or two walking children. I usually join them standing at the crossing. The crossing next to work is a very very long sequence. So if the road is empty I cross the road as it seems crazy to be standing by the edge of an empty road just waiting for the green man. I never cross roads dangerously. There is either plenty of time to cross (no running!) or I wait for the green man. Twice now during the school holidays I have been shouted at by the mothers as I have been crossing the road. I am 'setting a bad example' and then after telling me off explaining to the children that they never cross the road unless the green man is on and to ignore stupid idiots like me. One mother used slightly stronger language which was nice!
Surely though you don't just want kids to blindly cross the road because the green man is lit. Surely the kids have to be taught to look at the traffic on the road as well and not assume that green man is safe.
Anyway these telling off got me thinking. As an adult, should I stand at the side of an empty road diligently waiting for the green man to set a good example for little children if they are also at the crossing even though it is perfectly safe to cross the road?
The situation is always the same. Mother, usually a push chair and one or two walking children. I usually join them standing at the crossing. The crossing next to work is a very very long sequence. So if the road is empty I cross the road as it seems crazy to be standing by the edge of an empty road just waiting for the green man. I never cross roads dangerously. There is either plenty of time to cross (no running!) or I wait for the green man. Twice now during the school holidays I have been shouted at by the mothers as I have been crossing the road. I am 'setting a bad example' and then after telling me off explaining to the children that they never cross the road unless the green man is on and to ignore stupid idiots like me. One mother used slightly stronger language which was nice!
Surely though you don't just want kids to blindly cross the road because the green man is lit. Surely the kids have to be taught to look at the traffic on the road as well and not assume that green man is safe.
Anyway these telling off got me thinking. As an adult, should I stand at the side of an empty road diligently waiting for the green man to set a good example for little children if they are also at the crossing even though it is perfectly safe to cross the road?
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imo, cross the road whenever you like! you certainly shouldn't be abused for doing so. those children are not your responsibility, and as an adult i think yuo should be allowed to decide for yourself when and when not to cross the road! i understand the mothers feel you are 'setting a bad example', but that is up to them to teach their children, and not you. i have been in this situation before (never been yelled at though!) and sometimes i wait for the green man and cross with everyone else, sometimes i don't. as you say, parents should be teaching their children to check both ways, and always make sure the road is clear, green man or not. if they want to, they can use you as an example and say 'that lady should perhaps have waited to be safe' etc etc, but they certainly have no right to yell at you for it.
if you are not in a rush and don't mind, then by all means wait, but i don't feel you should be pressured into it by other people, as i'm sure you are capable of crossing the road by yourself!2011 wins: £481Eleventh Heaven: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 110 -
nervousftb wrote: »imo, cross the road whenever you like! you certainly shouldn't be abused for doing so. those children are not your responsibility, and as an adult i think yuo should be allowed to decide for yourself when and when not to cross the road! i understand the mothers feel you are 'setting a bad example', but that is up to them to teach their children, and not you. i have been in this situation before (never been yelled at though!) and sometimes i wait for the green man and cross with everyone else, sometimes i don't. as you say, parents should be teaching their children to check both ways, and always make sure the road is clear, green man or not. if they want to, they can use you as an example and say 'that lady should perhaps have waited to be safe' etc etc, but they certainly have no right to yell at you for it.
if you are not in a rush and don't mind, then by all means wait, but i don't feel you should be pressured into it by other people, as i'm sure you are capable of crossing the road by yourself!
Agree with this entirely, was going to say exactly the same, as long as you aren't running through small gaps or something you aren't setting a bad example.0 -
I am afraid I disagree, it used to bug me when I was teaching my kids to cross the road and people didnt wait for the green man.:heartpulsOnce a Flylady, always a Flylady:heartpuls0
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I am afraid I disagree, it used to bug me when I was teaching my kids to cross the road and people didnt wait for the green man.
Me too. I think it is very rude. I don't have small children now myself, but would never do this, just as I would not swear if kiddies around etc.
The number of people agreeing with the OP shows what a rude bunch we have become in the UK.0 -
I am afraid I disagree, it used to bug me when I was teaching my kids to cross the road and people didnt wait for the green man.
Isn't it for you to teach your children though? If i'm in a rush to get somewhere i'm not going to wait for the green man if there isn't any traffic! Its not my place to teach starnger's children how to cross the road and i wouldn't be happy to get abuse about it. I am an adult after all and if i feel its safe to cross the road, then i will.:heart2: Newborn Thread Member :heart2:
'Children reinvent the world for you.' - Susan Sarandan0 -
And now that my kids are old enough and understand the rules of the road and CAN judge for themselves, I still wait for the green man if someone is waiting at the lights with their kids.
We should ALL be setting a good example to kids:heartpulsOnce a Flylady, always a Flylady:heartpuls0 -
HAHAHAHAHA come and live in London - we never wait for the lights and consider it a bit of sport if we can get tourists to cross at the same time and get them beaped at
Seriously though - no it isnt your responsibility to care about what other peoples children are doing - as long as you are crossing safely then who cares...Cant wait for the little 'angels' to be back at school life is soo much easier then
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Isn't it for you to teach your children though? If i'm in a rush toget somewhere i'm not going to wait for the green man if there isn't any traffic! Its not my place to teach starnger's children how to cross the road and i wouldn't be happy to get abuse about it. I am an adult after all and if i feel its safe to cross the road, then i will.
This makes my point. Everyone just thinks of themsleves and no collective though for others or how their actions impact on society as a whole. If an old lady falls over that is not your problem either, but would it be right to leave her?0 -
Actually an old lady did fall over on the crossing at Victoria the other day and lots of people stopped to help her...(I didnt because she already had waaaayy too much help!)
Dont see what that has to do with other peoples brats though - its not like your dragging them into the road now is it!0 -
Yes it is, but how can we teach our children how to cross safely ( for them ) when people like you pay little regard?Isn't it for you to teach your children though? If i'm in a rush to get somewhere i'm not going to wait for the green man if there isn't any traffic! Its not my place to teach starnger's children how to cross the road and i wouldn't be happy to get abuse about it. I am an adult after all and if i feel its safe to cross the road, then i will.
:heartpulsOnce a Flylady, always a Flylady:heartpuls0
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