On jaywalking (reprisal)
A few years ago I briefly maintained a little-read blog. To this day, whenever I setup WordPress on my domain, I’m reminder of my “On jaywalking” post from 2008, which Twin City Sidewalks linked to back then. I was younger and roughly as angry at pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles as I am now. You see, I pay attention. The rest of you, don’t. Let me reprise some of what I believe were the key points from “On jaywalking,” which may help you to get where you’re going a bit faster and a bit safer that
(Disclaimer: these points, in fact, this entire post, should not be taken as advice or instruction. Obey the law and be smart. This is just commentary. So, when you get hit by that car because you remember this post and think to yourself, “Pete nailed it!” it’s not my fault. Really, obey the law. I may skirt it here and there, but I do so at my own risk, as do you. Being a pedestrian is risky business regardless. Also, nothing here should be construed as legal advice, especially since I’m not a lawyer in your state or, for that matter, anywhere.)
- Cars can usually make a right turn on red. Is the walk light red? Stay out of their way.
- Unless you’re already crossing when the walk light goes red, don’t cross unless you KNOW it’s safe (i.e. there’s not a car in sight).
- Stay in the goddamn crosswalk. Even if you have the right of way, if you step out of that crosswalk and get hit you can go from zero fault to a lot of fault.
- Crossing in the middle of the block is acceptable, but is generally bad form unless you have to go far astray to cross.
- That car you see in the distance? It’s going anywhere from 1/3 to four times the speed you think its going.
- Cars can change lanes. Quickly. You’ve been warned.
- A turn signal on a car means nothing. Don’t take it for granted.
- See that cop over there? Think there’s a cop nearby? Without a doubt, obey the law. If they’re in a really good mood and you don’t obstruct anyone, you’ll be OK. If they’re in a so-so mood, you might get an earful. Anything less, it’s a ticket. And don’t complain, you are breaking the law.
- The last time I was nearly hit by a car, it was a security monitor vehicle from work. Their supervisor got a nasty email because I was 100% in the right; they failed to yield the right of way to me, in a marked crosswalk with a just-green-light, as they turned left. The moral of the story: trust no one.
- Trust no one includes bicyclists. There are many good bicyclists out there, but you need to play it safe. Assume anyone on a bicycle is totally ignorant of their surroundings. Mopeds, too.
- Speaking of ignorant of their surroundings, the same holds for… pedestrians. Just cause they move into the street doesn’t mean you have to.
- Got the right of way? Be aggressive yet cautious. You give someone an inch, they leave a tread mark Look around, look drivers in the eye if you can, make them know you’re there.
- Yellow, reflective safety vests are generally uncool, but will get you noticed.
In summation, the pedestrian is not always right. In fact, where I work, the pedestrian is usually wrong and asking for trouble. Drivers, bicyclists, and anyone on a moped is usually wrong, too.