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Jaywalking legalized in New York City

theguardian.com

301–310 of 370 posts

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>New Yorkers don't have a concept of "jaywalking"; it's just "walking." It's also not a word in the German language at all, it's just "crossing the road". If you do it safely grate, if you don't not grate and if there are children nearby unsafe road crossing is really something you shouldn't do, especially it it's just because you are to lazy to walk a small bit more (I think crossing a road close by a pedestrian cro…

We know the meaning of the American word in Britain, but it's also not a concept here. Germany seems very strict compared to the UK. You can be fined €10 in Germany for crossing when the red man is lit!

Yes but jaywlaking is more then just crossing when the light is red (which indeed is highly frowned on in parts of Germany, and very normal in other parts of Germany). Jaywalking also refers to e.g. crossing the road without having a pedestrian crossing which is very normal in Germany.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#302

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…

Amsterdam is just like New York (New Amsterdam!) in that pedestrians (and bikes) cross wherever they like. Next up: in Amsterdam most bikes and pedestrians will not wait for a red light on small crossings when they can see there is no oncoming traffic. Technically illegal but I've never heard of anyone being fined. No harm no foul. But I guess the large intersections in New York make it trickier to estimate whether that's safe to do.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#303
post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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> The story goes to influence child education. If there are no children in sight some german will jaywalk though.

That is definitely true. I'm from Austria and I try not to jaywalk when there are children around because I have been taught this way (and I see the point).

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#304

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…

Amsterdam is just like New York (New Amsterdam!) in that pedestrians (and bikes) cross wherever they like. Next up: in Amsterdam most bikes and pedestrians will not wait for a red light on small crossings when they can see there is no oncoming traffic. Technically illegal but I've never heard of anyone being fined. No harm no foul. But I guess the large intersections in New York make it trickier to estimate whether t…

Laws that allow cyclists to treat stop signs and red lights as yield signs are called "Idaho stop" laws and are debated fiercely.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amsterdam is just like New York (New Amsterdam!) in that pedestrians (and bikes) cross wherever they like. Next up: in Amsterdam most bikes and pedestrians will not wait for a red light on small crossings when they can see there is no oncoming traffic. Technically illegal but I've never heard of anyone being fined. No harm no foul. But I guess the large intersections in New York make it trickier to estimate whether t…

Laws that allow cyclists to treat stop signs and red lights as yield signs are called "Idaho stop" laws and are debated fiercely.

Unfortunately, New York seems to be odd in this respect. Even at lightly used stop lights, such as the lights inside of Central Park when most vehicles can’t use the roads, the police have been known to ticket cyclists.

Then again, I’ve also seen the police ticket cyclists for speeding in the park.

Numerous Reddit threads for both topics.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Laws that allow cyclists to treat stop signs and red lights as yield signs are called "Idaho stop" laws and are debated fiercely.

Unfortunately, New York seems to be odd in this respect. Even at lightly used stop lights, such as the lights inside of Central Park when most vehicles can’t use the roads, the police have been known to ticket cyclists. Then again, I’ve also seen the police ticket cyclists for speeding in the park. Numerous Reddit threads for both topics.

Typically those crosswalks in Central Park have a lot of pedestrians. So, makes sense.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#307

I grew up in Southern California. My parents strictly observed traffic laws, and riding in the car with them, I would often hear their disapproving gossip about pedestrians' faux pas , including wearing black at night. In high school, a classmate tried to help me loosen up a bit, and he'd encourage our group to cross a busy stroad. "They'll stop! They'll stop for you!" he assured me. He was right... I visited Catalon…

Does anyone know if beg button presses get tracked? I often wonder if pressing it increases some great counter in the sky that future city planners can use to design an intersection better.

Good idea.

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#309

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…

[dead]

Re: Jaywalking legalized in New York City

#310
post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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NYC here. I always used the crosswalk when I was with my child to teach him the safest way.
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