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Jaywalking legalized in New York City

theguardian.com

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Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#211

Post by jklinger410 »

acureau wrote: post #199
jklinger410 wrote: post #185

I will still be using the cross walks everywhere I go. Because there's no shortcut across the street that is worth me stopping traffic or getting hit by a car. Jaywalking is for selfish and impatient people who are bad at assessing risk. Unless the street is completely empty, I guess.

As someone who has never lived in a city this is strange to me. I live in a relatively dense part of Louisiana, but around here you couldn't walk at all without jaywalking. There aren't even sidewalks in a lot of places. You just walk along the side of the road.

Well if the government doesn't provide infrastructure for you to use, then you have no choice but to jaywalk.

What I think is crazy is all of the cities that just don't build sidewalks. I understand in certain rural areas, but yeah, many midwestern and southern cities are downright hostile to pedestrians.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#212

Post by bko »

standardUser wrote: post #108

First, let's not forget that jaywalking is one of those "crimes" that is used as a pretense by police to harass people, usually young people and people of color. Second, as a veteran jaywalker, my rule of thumb is that if a car has to hit their breaks even a little, or otherwise alter their trajectory, you're doing it wrong. The goal should be smooth movement for all. Third, just because someone else is jaywalking do…

[flagged]

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#213

Post by jklinger410 »

maxwellg wrote: post #201
jklinger410 wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Crosswalks at intersections are nearly obsolete due to the thick A-pillars in modern cars. What?

A-pillars are the pillars of a car that support the windshield and the front of the roof. They've gotten bigger in recent years - which reduces the visibility of pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars. Drivers can't see through pillars. Big pillars are safer for the driver in case of a collision or a rollover, but paradoxically also makes that car more dangerous for everyone else on the road. I don't think they make c…

Yeah okay, I understand pedestrian visibility. But cross walks have nothing to do with that really?

Like it's a place where you (usually) stop and when you are stopped, pedestrians can go.

I don't see how jaywalking would be better than a dedicated place where pedestrians are expected to be. Thick a-frames or not.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#214

Post by mywittyname »

asd33313131 wrote: post #174
gxonatano wrote: post #87

Let's not forget that jaywalking was essentially created by the automotive industry and its lobbyists, to make life more convenient for drivers. It started in car-heavy places like California, and eventually became a law virtually everywhere in the US, but was never really enforced in New York City, where most people walk or take public transit, rather than drive. If, like most New Yorkers, you walk several kilometer…

In Vienna, which has very good public transport and a large walking population, there is a strong culture against jaywalking. Locals will wait at the crosswalk sign even on minor roads with no traffic. Having lived in New York, London, and other places, I've never seen anything like it.

I'm willing to bet drivers in Vienna also obey traffic signals/laws, which is also something you cannot expect from NYC drivers.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#215

Post by nomel »

ssl-3 wrote: post #200
nomel wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices Does this mean diagonally? What's the distance to "adjacent"? One city block? Two? Does this mean that jaywalking is still practically illegal in most dense cities/downtown areas? The lack of clarity is pretty frustrating with many of these laws. I understand the practical need for wiggle room, but this almost seems like a trap! My naive in…

> An “intersection” is the area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways, of two highways which join one another at approximately right angles or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySectio...

My question was specifically about the "adjacent" part of "adjacent intersections". That link explains "intersections". What does it mean when those are "adjacent"?

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#216

Post by mywittyname »

sigwinch28 wrote: post #129
bragr wrote: post #93

Since they made this change in California last year, I cross where ever when it is safe and convenient. I'm surprised how big of difference it made to the convenience and speed of walking somewhere. No more waiting for 2 different lights just to get to the opposite corner.

>waiting for 2 different lights just to get to the opposite corner. A solution sometimes seen in London is a “Pedestrian Scramble”, where pedestrians are explicitly given full (and even diagonal) access to a junction with all other traffic stopped. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestrian_scramble

In Seattle, they call these "all walks" or officially, "all way walks." I love them, since I don't feel like I have to watch out for drivers making left turns.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#217

Post by sixo »

bko wrote: post #212
standardUser wrote: post #108

First, let's not forget that jaywalking is one of those "crimes" that is used as a pretense by police to harass people, usually young people and people of color. Second, as a veteran jaywalker, my rule of thumb is that if a car has to hit their breaks even a little, or otherwise alter their trajectory, you're doing it wrong. The goal should be smooth movement for all. Third, just because someone else is jaywalking do…

[flagged]

You hear about it a lot because it's real and happens constantly, esp in past decades

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#218

Post by caekislove »

elif wrote: post #153
standardUser wrote: post #108

First, let's not forget that jaywalking is one of those "crimes" that is used as a pretense by police to harass people, usually young people and people of color. Second, as a veteran jaywalker, my rule of thumb is that if a car has to hit their breaks even a little, or otherwise alter their trajectory, you're doing it wrong. The goal should be smooth movement for all. Third, just because someone else is jaywalking do…

Yea the herd mentality is why jaywalking is unethical. I've witnessed someone try to cross early, triggering literally ~20 people to follow, only for the light to change and everyone collectively realized they had no right of way and stepped back. It's easy to see how this could result in tragedy. Germany, Japan, there is strict social compliance so it feels right anyway.

I don't know about ALL of Japan, but in Tokyo, pedestrians frequently ignore red lights and seeing cars with green lights waiting while a large group of jaywalkers is crossing in front of them is not an uncommon sight.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#219

Post by NBJack »

bko wrote: post #212
standardUser wrote: post #108

First, let's not forget that jaywalking is one of those "crimes" that is used as a pretense by police to harass people, usually young people and people of color. Second, as a veteran jaywalker, my rule of thumb is that if a car has to hit their breaks even a little, or otherwise alter their trajectory, you're doing it wrong. The goal should be smooth movement for all. Third, just because someone else is jaywalking do…

[flagged]

> I love hearing about this magical world where police harass random people for no reason.

Nothing random, magical, or pretend about it in the states. https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice/race-and-criminal...

Talk to folks that don't share your skin tone. Make some friends. Ask them about their experiences, then judge for yourself.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#220

Post by Ferret7446 »

sehugg wrote: post #161

Good riddance. Crosswalks at intersections are nearly obsolete due to the thick A-pillars in modern cars. I would rather have mid-block crosswalks with warning lights and traffic calming devices.

It's quite the opposite isn't it? Drivers don't have to see pedestrians; they stop at red lights, and pedestrians cross when they get a walk signal.
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