If Colombians are so “Smart” why can’t obey this Sign?

Monpirri says on Aug 9, 2009, 05:35:

More info:

Crece el número de peatones muertos en accidentes viales.
http://www.vanguardia.com/santander/bucaramanga/17302-crece-el-numero-...

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 9, 2009, 06:38:

dwmte7 says on Aug 9, 2009, 06:41:

usually when colombians read "PARE" they think to themselves, "pare, que" and drive on.

d

patriarch

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Monpirri says on Aug 9, 2009, 06:49:

Bill Turley, I know the signs in Colombia would say PARE or CUIDADO but I was trying to make a point, to follow the leaders! You know what I mean.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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davidyamiga says on Aug 9, 2009, 06:58:

Azuno...why break the rhythm? You will now be a gringo and not a colombiano!

Otra vez en casa...Cali!

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Rikito says on Aug 9, 2009, 07:02:

the reason they do not follow the sign not only in Colombia, but in most of the counties world wide is because if they did the guy (or woman) behind then would rear end his car and csue death and mayhem.

...and so it goes

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Gator says on Aug 9, 2009, 07:03:

and the point is? change to signs in Colombia to english?

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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dwmte7 says on Aug 9, 2009, 07:20:

i think they should change all traffic signs around the world to english. it just makes things easier for me.
d

patriarch

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Aji1 says on Aug 9, 2009, 07:36:

Rikito hit the nail on the head. The developing world has no clue about pedestrian rights. In defense of Colombia however, they drive and respect the transit laws much, much better than when I first started going there in 96', like day and night actually to me.

I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

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Bluesdude says on Aug 9, 2009, 08:10:

I always thought that Pare signs in Colombia are like Yield signs in the states, at least everyone I see uses them that way. I don't know what the traffic laws are in Colombia, so maybe you don't have to make a full stop for a Pare sign. Actually it makes a lot of sense in most cases. With that said, my experience of driving in Cartagena is that no one obeys traffic laws and there is very little enforcement, so it's a free-for-all and an endless game of "Chicken"

A guru once said, "the mind is like a drunken monkey." If that's true, then my mind is an orangutan on a binge

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Londoner says on Aug 9, 2009, 08:27:

Pedestrians in Colombia have no rights.In my city the moto is King.If you try and cross the road,the moto will try to avoid you but will never yield.When you see Colombians drive,they reveal the true character of the people.Colombians,like all Latinos are animals when it comes to driving.Yes there are exceptions,show me one,and I.ll show you 100 others to prove my point.Lets not beat about the bush here,when you are on the road in Colombia it,s dog eat dog.

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Gator says on Aug 9, 2009, 08:35:

It's the thrill of the hunt that counts. Cripples only count 1/2 the normal points. My wife looks like a hunted rabbit when she heads out across the street-after several false starts.

"Bene, cum Latine nescias, nolo manus meas in te maculare" .

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mcheasley says on Aug 9, 2009, 08:59:

Do they have ANY traffic laws in Medellin??? When i get in my car, I have to observe the USA carnival Bumper Car RULES.... Swerve like theres no tomorrow and no matter what you do, DONT STOP.. If you do they will crash into you and you are considered fair game.....

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mranderson says on Aug 9, 2009, 08:59:

Now that I'm back in the states it's driving me crazy that I actually have to yield to pedestrians. I also really hate the fact that I can't use the left lane to make right turns.

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mranderson says on Aug 9, 2009, 09:11:

That's because they use all parts of the road with little regards to what lines are painted on them...unlike here where we have to wait in an orderly line because some dumbass 20 cars ahead is afraid to merge into traffic. A pedestrian sticks a toe out in the road and all traffic must slow to 5 miles per hour. Freaking rediculous here. I really hope they pass the law where motos can run between cars here.

The colombian system is so much better.

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dwmte7 says on Aug 9, 2009, 09:35:

anyone who's sat behind the wheel ANYWHERE in colombia, be it mtns, desert, cities, campo.....knows that the 'california roll' rules.

patriarch

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dwmte7 says on Aug 9, 2009, 09:36:

all this time i thought the sidewalks in colombia were made especially for motos.
d

patriarch

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Londoner says on Aug 9, 2009, 11:52:

At least the moto riders eventually get their just desserts.When I visit my local Clinica,I get a macabre sense of satisfaction to see the waiting room full of moto owners on crutches.

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 9, 2009, 12:35:

mcheasley says on Aug 9, 2009, 15:14:

Spigrimace and I went to the so called antique car parade yesterday and he was telling me about a guy that opened the taxi door and a moto took the door clean off.... The moto guy was pissed cause the cops said it was his fault... These moto drivers have NO Clue.....

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excavator59 says on Aug 9, 2009, 18:14:

There are many idiots on bikes here but even if it isn't his fault the f***ing taxis will get you the blame ,been there read the book seen the film,I was knocked of by one in Pereira he came from my right to the left wedged me in to the megabus lane then told an enormous (porky) pork pie (lie) that I went down the side of him (f***ing cretin) then the fiscalia (who had a face like a Bulldog chewing a Wasp ) was trying to prosecute me for being in the left lane (She got her comeuppance when my lawyer discovered she had forged my signature on a document when I returned to England for a bit ( F***ing witch).So that's what goes on at the Palacio de Injusticia as I call it, they had to throw the case out but the prick Taxi driver got away with it if I want to continue it has to be a civil case against him,more money not guaranteed to win against the pricks in there Yellow cars HP's ,HP's ,HP's.

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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goin_south says on Aug 9, 2009, 18:19:

Maybe Colombia should adopt an old childhood 'Merican (North! of course) Slogan:

..........stop,..........
....................look,....................
......................................and, listen.......
before crossing streets.

and, (in 'Merica... north of course),....people make it a most usual habit not to walk in front of those moving machines.
_________________

Kinda seems to fall under the category of the Darwin Awards, (www.darwinawards.com) to me.

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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cvivaspoorbuthappy says on Aug 9, 2009, 19:15:

They take it as a STOPtional.

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dwmte7 says on Aug 10, 2009, 05:02:

yesserie..........."stoptional" that ole california roll!

patriarch

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Platinum_space says on Aug 10, 2009, 15:14:

Cubans are much worse, they stop when its green and go when its red in Miami.

I roll solo, other countries crimes do not intimidate me.

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dwmte7 says on Aug 10, 2009, 16:18:

platinum............i love it.

patriarch

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Rikito says on Aug 10, 2009, 17:21:

go to Athens and Bangkok if you want to see the insanity of moto drivers. It makes Colombia look like a day camp. Cairo is fun also, there they have red lights and a guy directing traffic in the center of major roads. No one obeys either. In fact the cop who directs traffic gets a special hazzard pay allownace just to stand there for an hour to wait and die.

...and so it goes

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Monpirri says on Aug 10, 2009, 17:36:

Yep, I'm ashamed to be Colombian when in Colombia they kill over 200 pedestrians a year! Pedestrian fatalities in Colombia are a good SIGN that they still very far for being developed country!
Unfortunately, I agree with these statements:
"The developing world has no clue about pedestrian rights." "Pedestrians in Colombia have no rights."

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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drvannostren says on Aug 10, 2009, 17:49:

It's not just Colombia though, it's lots of places, ever been to Rome? That's a pretty advanced society IMO and the cars there have all the rights of way. It's something that doesn't really bother me per se in Colombia, but it takes getting used to for sure, and arriving down there I forget about it a bit then get back into the swing of things. The worst part for me are those corners where cars come from directions you don't realize they might come from. I've had a few moments, when I was a bit groggy in the morning or late at night where 1 foot gets off the curb, and next thing I know I'm jumping back up to the sidewalk. Just gotta be careful folks!

No matter where you go, the Korean tour bus isn't far behind.

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luce says on Aug 11, 2009, 06:45:

What about the pedestrians that just cross the street in busy traffic, even if there's a pedestrian bridge 1/2 block away? The pedestrians are almost worse than the drivers, or just stupider, since they don't have the protection of a vehicle! Some folks say the US is "too controlled". In some little ways, "too controlled" is really just "more order". Most US folks wouldn't question stopping for stop sign - regardless of any situation. It's just a law and order thing. The law is to stop, therefore you stop. As with anywhere, with any rule, there are those that think rules don't apply to them, and also sometimes accidents do just happen. But I was suprised at how even the nicest people in Colombia did not obey the law when it came to traffic. A "stop" sign does not require interpretation (stop only if someone else is coming? No, JUST STOP). Colombians are smart, so it's puzzling for this general lax attitude on obeying the traffic laws. What about that whole thing about making 5 lanes on a road clearly marked for only 4 lanes? What's up with that????

Loyal to both.

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mranderson says on Aug 11, 2009, 07:09:

"Yep, I'm ashamed to be Colombian when in Colombia they kill over 200 pedestrians a year!"

Yea, you would think by now they would learn to look first. Pedestrians do some pretty stupid things..after all I did hit 2 of them on my moto which wasn't my fault. As far as a lot of them dying and a lot of traffic accidents...well, you have a lot of people in a relatively small area. Where did you get that statistic?

Imagine all the traffic jams there would be if you gave pedestrians rights in colombia. It just wouldn't work. people would be walking in the street instead of the sidewalk. Well, they do that anyway.

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goin_south says on Aug 11, 2009, 07:16:

well... whether you're driving, or walking..... shouldn't we all be looking around, alert, aware?

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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Londoner says on Aug 11, 2009, 09:06:

Got no statistics to back it up,only a gut feeling that most Colombians are pyscopaths.Driving is just a legal expression of this tendency.

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mranderson says on Aug 11, 2009, 10:03:

After driving in medellin almost everyday for over a year I would have to disagree with londoner.

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excavator59 says on Aug 11, 2009, 13:21:

I read that there are lots of Psycopaths in London too, oh sorry Cyclepaths.

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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dwmte7 says on Aug 11, 2009, 14:36:

after thirty five or forty passes through london over the years, i still come close to getting creamed every time i step off the curb, because those jerk drivers are on the wrong side of the street!. an attorney buddy of mine--an american who was a barrister in london for years--got wasted, stepping off the curb back in the early 70's. spent about 3 months in traction at the royal hospital.....poor bastard. so it aint just colombians......and worse.....try india! the brits taught them. so you know it's really bad. so let's not be too harsh on the colombians. and nigeria, tehran, beyrout, casa blanca, lagos, and on and on. oh, the zona rosa in mex city. so all in all, i think colombia's not soooooooo bad.

patriarch

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goin_south says on Aug 11, 2009, 18:10:

"If Colombians are so “Smart” why can’t obey this Sign?"

Monpirri... who said, colombians are so smart?
You been talking/listening to Simon?

nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry.

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Monpirri says on Aug 11, 2009, 19:02:

GS I guess they are getting little bit smart because look what I found.

semaforo peatonal girardot

In Giradot, they already got the idea but they will need millions of this LED traffic lights to educate many of them.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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mranderson says on Aug 11, 2009, 19:32:

monpirri they have traffic lights with pedestrian lights all over the city.

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pedro (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 11, 2009, 21:36:

Speaking of pedestrians with no rights:

http://www.allleftturns.com/montoya-hits-crew-member-pit-road
(Montoya cleans up a pit crew member as he exits the pit lane)

Sorry about that!

"this may seem a strange post but it is not...when in colombia men need to be aware that colombia women may try to be seductive and entice a travelling gringo to have sex with them..to be forewarned is to be forearmed..." -- pow wow

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manINred says on Aug 11, 2009, 21:56:

Monpirri: it is because one of Colombia's major flaws is its terribly wreckless and poor drivers. They choose not to obey the signs out of incompetance, laziness, and selfishness. It is a shame.

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excavator59 says on Aug 11, 2009, 22:02:

Actually we have I, yes one of those pedestrian crossings in Plaza Bolivar in Pereira plus it gives you time in seconds how long you have to cross the street ,I still don't trust the bastards though.

Life is like a Pubic Hair on a Toilet Seat (Sooner or Later you get Pissed Off)

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dwmte7 says on Aug 12, 2009, 05:22:

monpirri......you're not understanding that light in girodot.....the little green guy means he's fair game while light is on.

patriarch

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Monpirri says on Aug 12, 2009, 15:29:

ManINred, agree with you also, yeap, wreckles and poor drivers, they are basically incompentent idiots!!

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Monpirri says on Aug 12, 2009, 15:33:

Excavator59, I won't trust either jajaja cause you'll never know whern it is going to kapput!

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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Monpirri says on Aug 12, 2009, 15:35:

Dwmte, jajajaja please do not confuse us.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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mranderson says on Aug 12, 2009, 21:23:

Are you the type of guys who go to colombia on vacation and a car honks or doesn't slow down for your pasty fat ass to cross the road so then you label them as incompetent idiots?

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Monpirri says on Aug 13, 2009, 18:55:

Mranderson, incompetent idiosts are the ones who kill pedestrians every year, about 250 so far this year.

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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mranderson says on Aug 15, 2009, 22:07:

I don't buy that monpirri..sometimes the incompetant idiots are the ones trying to cross the road.

I wonder how many cracked up loons and street kids are included in that number.

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Monpirri says on Aug 16, 2009, 05:09:

All right, let's not divide this pie into too many little pieces, they ALL INCOMPETENT IDIOTS.
I hope the Government looks into this ongoing nightmare more carefully!

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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mranderson says on Aug 16, 2009, 07:56:

Many taxi and bus drivers can be very aggressive and at times reckless but the majority of car owners are actually quite cautious. Maybe you are just incompetent of adapting to another culture?

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Monpirri says on Aug 16, 2009, 13:50:

Crece el número de peatones muertos en accidentes viales.
http://www.vanguardia.com/santander/bucaramanga/17302-crece-el-numero-....

"Anyone who still thinks that Colombia is not a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." Darloup

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