29 replies to this topic

[Dave Burrell]

Good summary, but wasn't the coffee actually melting the cups, and McD's knew about that, but it would have been too costly to correct the problem? Wasn't that also a point in the case?

yes

but it wasn't too costly to correct, that was just McD making profits a higher priority then the safety of their customers

[_john_doe_]

yes

but it wasn't too costly to correct, that was just McD making profits a higher priority then the safety of their customers

So you telling us that nothing has changed in corporate america since the lawsuit.

[Dave Burrell]

So you telling us that nothing has changed in corporate america since the lawsuit.

mcD's got new cups and posted warning signs but unless a corporation is caught and busted, they won't do anything if it will eat into their profits

money is always more important then a persons well being in Corporate America

[_john_doe_]

money is always more important then a persons well being in Corporate America

I love it!

[bv1016]

Back to the original topic for a second...

I drive by those "curbs" several times a day. and the only problem I have with them is that sometimes when i approach at the same time as a car coming the opposite direction, they almost stop, fearing we won't both fit through at the same time! We will people... are you that unaware of the size of your car. The opening is big enough, but it does cause some panic.

These are probably the same people who won't make a right turn on a red because they are afraid their mini cooper won't fit through an opening the size of a Semi! BTW I am only being a little dramatic, for the most part I am completely reasonable.

[ChipShot]

the only problem I have with them is that sometimes when i approach at the same time as a car coming the opposite direction, they almost stop, fearing we won't both fit through at the same time!

Ahhh, it sounds like you've encountered Mr./Mrs. Softhead. Yes, there is plenty of room for 2 cars...even 2 big cars. Beware of the softheads in society...they are committed to screwing things up for everyone...and they're succeeding.

[zach5]

So what is the city of folsom trying to do? Create an accident waiting to happen so they get sued? The only funtional purpose I can see those hazards can possible serve as is to make sure no one parks blocking the bike crossing path. Wouldn't red painting on the curb accomplish the same thing with out putting a road hazard. I can see some night, either a bicyclist is not going to see the curb and will bend their rim while getting thrown over the handle bars, or a car is going to drift over and possibly puncture their tire, bend or break their rim. Does anyone else have thoughts on those curbs in the street? They are shaped like a 1/4 of a pie if you haven't paid attention while driving by BT Collins Park on Willow Creek Drive.

I have to agree with just about everyone else... these really are not an issue, I have dirven by these, and they seem very useful, if you hit them with your car, obviously you are driving off the "road" so then you should hit them. As for bicycles, I do not see any reason that a bicyclist would not be able to see them even at night. They work in sacramento... even as small islands in the middle of the street at crosswalks. Comeon they are supposed to slow traffic down arent they? If you are going the speed limit of 25, they should not be an issue at all.

[tony]

I have to agree with just about everyone else... these really are not an issue, I have dirven by these, and they seem very useful, if you hit them with your car, obviously you are driving off the "road" so then you should hit them. As for bicycles, I do not see any reason that a bicyclist would not be able to see them even at night. They work in sacramento... even as small islands in the middle of the street at crosswalks. Comeon they are supposed to slow traffic down arent they? If you are going the speed limit of 25, they should not be an issue at all.

Agreed, with one caveat. These "curb extensions" or "bulb outs" are there to draw the attention of motorists to the bike trail crossing, shorten the crossing, and therefore make the crossing safer. At the same time, they should, and apparently already have, served as traffic calming. The caveat, as noted by the original poster, is that they extend into the bike lane on Willow Creek Drive. That does cause a hazard for bicyclists in the bike lane who may be forced to sudddenly move out into the traffic lane to get around the curb extension. I understand the the city is planning to address that situation either by re-striping to narrow the lanes or adding warning signs.

Interestingly, the one other place in Folsom with curb extensions (besides the other spot on Willow Creek) also creates a hazard for bicyclists: on Parkway Drive just south/east of Blue Ravine, there are a series of curb extensions at pedestrian crossings. The difference here is that, for some unexplained reason, Parkway Drive is one of the only collector streets in Folsom without marked bike lanes. What appear to be bike lanes are actually parking lanes, so bicyclists are stuck sharing a lane or using the side path that parallels part of Parkway Drive.

[Steve Heard]

Agreed, with one caveat. These "curb extensions" or "bulb outs" are there to draw the attention of motorists to the bike trail crossing, shorten the crossing, and therefore make the crossing safer. At the same time, they should, and apparently already have, served as traffic calming. The caveat, as noted by the original poster, is that they extend into the bike lane on Willow Creek Drive. That does cause a hazard for bicyclists in the bike lane who may be forced to sudddenly move out into the traffic lane to get around the curb extension. I understand the the city is planning to address that situation either by re-striping to narrow the lanes or adding warning signs.

Interestingly, the one other place in Folsom with curb extensions (besides the other spot on Willow Creek) also creates a hazard for bicyclists: on Parkway Drive just south/east of Blue Ravine, there are a series of curb extensions at pedestrian crossings. The difference here is that, for some unexplained reason, Parkway Drive is one of the only collector streets in Folsom without marked bike lanes. What appear to be bike lanes are actually parking lanes, so bicyclists are stuck sharing a lane or using the side path that parallels part of Parkway Drive.

I hope they add these bulb outs to the new trail extension across Willow Creek near Shelley Ct. The street is extra wide there, and people fly down that hill.

[ChipShot]

I noticed they're adding the same things over near the soccer field on Carter right off of McAdoo.

[Bill Z]

Now that the cones are gone and the big flourescent signs are up, the one by BT collins park already has one or possibly two tire marks where some motorist tagged it.

[_john_doe_]

Now that the cones are gone and the big flourescent signs are up, the one by BT collins park already has one or possibly two tire marks where some motorist tagged it.

Proof people don't pay attention at the wheel of a car.

[Bill Z]

They now have 3 each little reflective posts.

[supermom]

Here you go...

McFact No. 1: For years, McDonald's had known they had a problem with the way they make their coffee - that their coffee was served much hotter (at least 20 degrees more so) than at other restaurants.

McFact No. 2: McDonald's knew its coffee sometimes caused serious injuries - more than 700 incidents of scalding coffee burns in the past decade have been settled by the Corporation - and yet they never so much as consulted a burn expert regarding the issue.

McFact No. 3: The woman involved in this infamous case suffered very serious injuries - third degree burns on her groin, thighs and buttocks that required skin grafts and a seven-day hospital stay.

McFact No. 4: The woman, an 81-year old former department store clerk who had never before filed suit against anyone, said she wouldn't have brought the lawsuit against McDonald's had the Corporation not dismissed her request for compensation for medical bills.

McFact No. 5: A McDonald's quality assurance manager testified in the case that the Corporation was aware of the risk of serving dangerously hot coffee and had no plans to either turn down the heat or to post warning about the possibility of severe burns, even though most customers wouldn't think it was possible.

McFact No. 6: After careful deliberation, the jury found McDonald's was liable because the facts were overwhelmingly against the company. When it came to the punitive damages, the jury found that McDonald's had engaged in willful, reckless, malicious, or wanton conduct, and rendered a punitive damage award of 2.7 million dollars. (The equivalent of just two days of coffee sales, McDonalds Corporation generates revenues in excess of 1.3 million dollars daily from the sale of its coffee, selling 1 billion cups each year.)

McFact No. 7: On appeal, a judge lowered the award to $480,000, a fact not widely publicized in the media.

McFact No. 8: A report in Liability Week, September 29, 1997, indicated that Kathleen Gilliam, 73, suffered first degree burns when a cup of coffee spilled onto her lap. Reports also indicate that McDonald's consistently keeps its coffee at 185 degrees, still approximately 20 degrees hotter than at other restaurants. Third degree burns occur at this temperature in just two to seven seconds, requiring skin grafting, debridement and whirlpool treatments that cost tens of thousands of dollars and result in permanent disfigurement, extreme pain and disability to the victims for many months, and in some cases, years.

http://lawandhelp.com/q298-2.htm

Yeah--but heres's another McFact---if your stupid enough to drive and have a hot cup of anything in your dang lap--your gonna get burned--people--downright burned.

That lawsuit is about as ridiculous as suing a freaking car manufacturer for a relative dying after the relative intentionally commits suicide by drivng their vehicle off a flipping cliff.

Omg--you mean we should have put on the air bag consule--"the air bag will not save your life if you drive off a cliff?"
At that point speed and altitude no longer matter. Just good old stupidity and Darwins taking out the bad gene/trash.

[a little bean]

Why is it that spammers always pull up super old threads? Can't they just put their post on a one that's top of the list? Seems like more trouble to pull up such an old one