Sept. 27, 2005 – Look Both Ways Before Crossing

At some busy corners pedestrians often treat the Don't Walk signal, that large orange hand in the halt position, as more of a pretty light than a legal command. They blithely cross against the light--sometimes dodging cars that have the green-arrow right of way. Sometimes they're caught in the act--berated by honking horns or admonished by a nearby traffic aide.

Sheepishly, some scurry across, and others, frozen in their tracks, retreat.

In a perfect world, everyone would obey the traffic signals. But in a big city, there's a lot of traffic. Everybody's in a hurry.

Sometimes, with few cars coming and a light that's stubbornly not cooperating, a pedestrian may weigh his chances of reaching the other side in one piece and decide that his chances are good. He may cross in the middle of the block. He may find this the most exhilarating part of the day. No harm, no foul.

For the cautious folks who remain perched on the curb, those who faithfully obey the Don't Walk sign, it's a satisfying moment of justice. As opposed to all those moments when the meek silently berate themselves for not having the guts to sprint across the street against the light.

There are laws on the books that bar pedestrians from crossing against the light or jaywalking in the middle of the block, of course. But they are rarely enforced.

In Chicago, jaywalking is beginning to be enforced, but some question if it’s worth it. If a traffic cop wants to make an example of a particularly, egregiously thoughtless pedestrian or two, once in a while, so be it. But filling the busy rush hour chasing after scurrying jaywalkers and writing ticket after ticket, while traffic gets even more bollixed up? Our tax dollars can do better.

After all, just about all the risk of jaywalking is borne by the jaywalker. He's not going to mow anybody down, no matter how quick his stride. He might, though, get clipped by a car--and will deserve his fate.

Vehicle 1, pedestrian, 0. And in the hospital. << back