Was this at a stop sign? It is very dangerous to stop on a main  multi-lane road to allow someone to cross. I nearly hit some kids by the high school on Kingwood Dr one time.. This was not during the hours that the lights were flashing. I was going the speed limit in the left lane and all of a sudden traffic stopped in the right lane, I assumed because someone was making a right turn into the apartments. Nope. Someone stopped to let some kids cross and they ran out in front of me. Good thing I was paying attention! The kids could not see me and I could not see them. Don't know if this is true or not, but I have been told by many that it is illegal to stop and do that. Very dangerous for all involved.
@noel: I agree completely - you should not stop on a four lane divided road where there is no stopsign or light, because anyone coming in the lane next to you will not know why you stopped and may not stop just because you did. It gives false security to a pedestrian or biker trying to cross and greatly increases their chance of getting hit by someone in the lane next to you. Pedestrians and bikers yield to vehicles at these kinds of crossings; it has to be that way for the simple logic of nothing more than cars are bigger and do more damage than pedestrians. I am a runner too, cross these areas often (greenbelt that crosses Woodland Hills a block or so south of North Park), and always yield and watch both lanes.
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