Bill Rothschild writes-
Dear Joe:
When we we at the sidewalk sale on Main St this year, we had to cross the street near the police station, where cars had to turn left of right since Main was closed for the event. A lady in a car stopped to let us cross. As we did she yelled out to us "In Gloucester we say Thank You to drivers that stop for us". A tad off, but no big deal.
About a week ago, Ned, one of the paramedics I work with was arriving in Gloucester late at night to join his fishing partner on their boat the Fish Pig, docked at the Cape Ann Marina. He had never been to Gloucester before and was following his GPS when it told him to turn right off of 128 at one of the lights, which he changed lanes to do. A woman in a nearby car apparently had little respect for this driving move and let Captain Ned know it by yelling out to him, " Hey, nice fucking turn signal, ass-hole!" I Wonder if they were the same woman, or if some type of driving sarcasm is overtaking the local ladies of Gloucester?
Anyhow, I thought it might make a story for GMG.
Bill Rothschild, (the NY medic).
Good Morning Gloucester 
The funny part is, you were most likely in the sidewalk there, so you had the right of way anyway. Sometimes I think thanking people who let you cross in a crosswalk makes them think they did you a favor, instead of following the law.
I love Gloucester dearly, but it’s home to many abysmal drivers (I’m certainly far from perfect).
Once, our own NEIGHBOR turned around to yell at us because we wouldn’t let her barge on down the street (her side was blocked by illegally parked cars). She tried to argue first that because she’d lived in Gloucester her whole life, she got to go. She then tried to argue that the person furthest down the street gets to go first. Laws were silly, to her. It was the most surreal moment of living in Gloucester and I almost felt like moving back to Lowell if I had to live next to nuthouses. Luckily, I started meeting great people and decided to stay.
Oh, also an old man yelled at me to “slow down!” while driving on Maplewood in my minivan full of kids. I was doing 20. In a 25. I just…what?
-KT
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I have a MAJOR MAJOR problem with people who don’t acknowledge a driver who slows down for them or when someone lets a car pull out for them.
I ALWAYS give a wave out of courtesy. It may be the law but it’s also just being nice. Even worse than not getting the nice hand wave and thank you to me is when you get neither and they traipse along sloooowly across. I always like to trot across for the people who kindly let me pass whether it’s the law or not.
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Totally agree with you Joey. I always give a thumbs up or a thank you to drivers when they stop at crosswalks for me. Kindness rules.
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I usually do, still. I at least give a head nod or I make eye contact and smile, since I usually have small kids with me or groceries so I can’t wave. I also do the “comically moonwalk across quickly” manuever. But I’ve noticed that people just don’t think they HAVE to stop, and it’s bad news. It doesn’t really get drilled into your head when you’re in drivers’ ed. I honestly didn’t realize for a few years that it is, indeedy, the law – and a truck in Beverly went POUNDING ON THROUGH on 1A, despite a clear long stretch before me, when I had my kids crossing to go to a playground the other day. Douchenheimer.
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Ooh, I also do hate when I let someone go in a car, like say Rogers/Prospect, and they don’t even make eye contact, let alone wave. If someone lets me go left onto Rogers from Flanagan’s square, I wave twice. I may even fistpump in glee depending on my mood and proximity to 5pm when it’s a jungle down there.
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I don’t need to be thanked for stopping to let people cross the street but as Joey said it is nice to acknowledge it with a wave. I do however get mad when people do not use turn signals properly or are using their cell phones while turning into traffic. The intersection of Railroad Avenue, Prospect and Maplewood is no place to be holding your phone with your head against your shoulder and If i thought they would listen i would tell them so.
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the only reason i acknowledge a car when i’m about to enter a crosswalk, or think a car has slowed down to allow room for me to enter, is to make sure they are aware that i am there. as far as trotting across, well, maybe.
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I’LL LET PEOPLE GO AT AN INTERSECTION .BUT IF THEY’RE ARE USING A CELL PHONE I WON’T.
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I agree with Joey…maybe it is the law and they are not letting you cross or pass out of courtesy…but, you should wave a thank you, showing your own courtesy …or you’re no better than they are.
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