Oh, they'll get tickets for parking illegally. They may even get a ticket for parking illegally when they're parked legally. Not for running red lights or stop signs or sitting in the middle of an intersection, creating gridlock, or speeding through Center City.

Very true--and it applies to local drivers too. It's scary to watch cars and buses continuously blow through red lights around here. And on the weekends, it's frustrating to watch them get away with it, while there are plenty of cops nearby.

Phillynova, I wish your friends all the best.

4th & Arch is very accident-prone. About a week or so ago, I witnessed an accident on the same corner. A SUV blew the red light and crashed into a minivan cab. Luckily, the two passengers and driver of the cab were okay, but the side door and windows of the cab were smashed. The only damage to the SUV was that the front bumper was ripped off. The firefighters had to come out and sweep up all the glass, something they told me they do all the time at that corner. The driver of the SUV swore that his light changed from green to red instantly, with no yellow.

PhillyNova I hope that your friends that were hit are doing better.

Last night around 8 pm I was walking to the Obama rally. Don't ask I can't vote in PA yet just moved here. Besides I had to see what the excitement was about better than sitting home and it was only a few blocks away.

ANYWAY, I was walking up Arch about to cross 4th on the other side of the firehouse. There was a police officer there he saw me hesitate about crossing even though I had the right of way. Cars going straight on Arch had the green. The officer tells me " go ahead love " and as I step across a dumb azz girl talking on her cell phone makes a left turn on green right for me.

The girl had her car window down the officer yelled at her "pedestrains have the right away and to get off the cell phone..." He told me "continue on love" which I did with my heart racing because I was almost hit. Not sure what occurred after I continued on.

Mention all this because kudos to the cop for giving it to the idiot!

Any update on the victims ? I arrived at the scene after the ambulances were already there while waiting for the bus. That is a rough intersection and often traveled by pedestrian tour groups, mostly students. Hope they are ok.

Many years ago, I was driving to work in old city on 4th st from northern liberties and i was struck by a car who ran the light on arch st. The guy hit my car and I slammed into the car who was driving beside me. I wasn't seriously hurt however I was very bruised and sore for a long time.

walking home from voting late this morning, i was crossing race at 4th and nearly got mowed over by some jackass. the light had just turned green, i had the right of way, but his four wheels overruled my two feet. you take your life in your hands walking around the neighborhood these days!

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Freudian Slips: when you say one thing but mean your mother

Glad you're OK, Annie Hall. There are so many drivers who do that, that now I wait until every car pulling up to the intersection comes to a complete stop before I step off the curb. It doesn't guarantee that I won't get run over, but I think it lessens my chances!

thank you!

__________________
Freudian Slips: when you say one thing but mean your mother

This is something I have been thinking about for a while, is there a group in Philadelphia (or any major city) that sole purpose is to represent the rights of people walking in the city?
I feel like some kind of advocacy group needs to exist to put pressure on not only law enforcement to keep a more vigilant eye for bad drivers about to mow down people but also to put pressure on building owners who close off their sidewalks indefinitely forcing pedestrians to cross into the street in front of drivers already not paying attention for the aforementioned reasons.
I feel like if this doesn’t exist, we can start it. Any takers?