Do you jaywalk? (poll)

[Patiod]

I travel all over North America, and notice that jay-walking protocol seems to vary wildly.

DC: No way am I risking a ticket
Phila & NY: Wuddaya, kiddin me? No freaking light is gonna tell ME what to do!
Montreal: J'ignore le feu de circulation.
Toronto: I don't care if there's a blizzard and not a single car on the road - I don't have a WALK signal!

[dysfunctional press]

1. i don't even think it's a crime in chicago...

it may be on the books, but i've NEVER heard of it being enforced.
we walk where we wanna, when we wanna.

[bigwillq]

2. Yes (nt)

[Omphaloskepsis]

3. I do it everyday...

My lawyer claims that this is legal.

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And this is not.

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And, yes, If you asked me five years ago if I would ever have a lawyer. Cockpunch.. Times change.


edit --- ascii art run a muck -- If you run at a angle you can get fucked. Running across at a 90 is legal. IANAL.

[tjwmason]

4. Goodness yes - nothing illegal about it here.

I damn well can't be bothered to wait for the little green man if there's no traffic coming, or if it's standing still.

[Patiod]

5. And yet in certain cities, people do!

[nosillies]

8. Why no zebra crossings in America? They're the best!

I must admit that on my testy days I would just jump into them for the hell of it and then run just to "challenge" any cars that would dare try to beat me through the crossing.

[Patiod]

12. They do have them in more and more places

Usually shopping centers. Some drivers understand them and stop, others coming zooming through, which sort of ruins the purpose.

I've heard that California drivers are pretty good about stopping for zebra crossings -- I also noticed that people (in Westwood, at least) don't try to cross against the signals.

[Left Is Write]

6. No.

[rhiannon55]

7. I feel stupid standing there if no cars are coming

So, yes. Regularly.

[trof]

9. OK. Why do they call it 'jay' walking?

Anybody know?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Because they were tired of Blue-Jay always crossing in the wrong places nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Other: no such thing here.

Pedestrians can cross wherever and whenever they want, with the obvious exceptions (vehicle-only tunnels and bridges and so forth).

Also, crossing stupidly in front of trafic will make it harder to get something from the driver who hit you, but even then you won't get a ticket.

[Patiod]

13. Sounds like a nightmare for drivers

Am reading a detective series set in Rio de Janeiro - the author, Luiz Al Garcia Roza, really makes you feel you're THERE.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. It may be a nightmare for drivers

but certainly not because of pedestrians. Because of other drivers.