Seattlest: Jaywalk This Way

John Z Wetmore

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:13:54 -0800

Crosswalk enforcement on satellite tv. Tuesday, December 12, DISH Network will show Episode 88 of "Perils For Pedestrians". Contents of Episode 88 (2003): --We visit Silver Spring, Maryland, to observe a targeted crosswalk enforcement detail. --We talk with one of the decoy pedestrians from the Montgomery County police. --In Charleston, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League has helped pass legislation relaxing school acreage requirements. --We travel to Brooklyn, New York, where Transportation Alternatives has been advocating for pedestrians and bicyclists. DISH Network Channel 9411 -- The Universityhouse Channel Tuesday -- 9:30 pm Eastern, 6:30 Pacific Note: Episode 88 is not yet available on Google Video. Note: Public access cable channels are showing different episodes than DISH Network. Thank you.

charles

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:31:33 -0800

In my case it wasn't a crowd but a loud voice on the squad car's PA sternly crackling, "You in the black coat! Stop! Take your hands out of your pockets!".the steely directness in his voice was kind of touching in its own weird way, too ;)

kim

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:25:33 -0800

oh and then there was the time that i crossed the street before the light said i could downtown, and the crowd of people that were waiting gasped and yelled and hollered at me "you could get killed!" "that's how you get hurt!" "oh my god! don't do that!" i was kind of touched by their concern.

kim

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:23:32 -0800

i was once pulled over by a cop in a car with his lights on. i was walking on the sidewalk. crazy me for thinking i could cross broadway at 7 AM when there were no cars coming. the cop gave me a good talking to and warned me of the awful things that could happen if a car ran into me on the street. i suppressed the urge to tell him i had long ago been given the freedom to cross the street without holding an adult's hand. instead, i just smiled and nodded, and thought, "weirdo."

charles

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 13:43:57 -0800

Ironic timing. I got "pulled over" by a pair of cops in a squad car on broadway today for walking through a "flashing do not walk" in front of jack in the box.I was informed that the ticket is 48 dollars, however they let me go without a fine.Interestingly enough they explicitly said that they're NOT going out of their way to cite people for jaywalking, which given the context of this post (which I had read before going to lunch) was an interesting thing for them to volunteer.

Dan

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:29:53 -0800

I've lived in other places that have gone with the "every man for himself" traffic paradigm and that works too. If you can get yourself across the street against the light you do it. If you're a car you don't stop for anyone. People still get where they're going and surprisingly few people get hit. You kind of have to do one or the other, though, and Seattle has apparently decided on order.

Jay Walker

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:22:16 -0800

Sure, if everyone followed every rule all the time things would probably go smoother. But since, that doesn't happen, why can't we just agree that Mom was right... look both ways before crossing the street.

BobH

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:30:21 -0800

Obviously there are better ways for cops to be spending their time. That said, if everyone jaywalks it becomes absolutely impossible to for cars to make any turns on downtown streets. If we all followed the rules things would go smoother -- and we wouldn't have the cops getting involved.

Jay Walker

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 10:17:36 -0800

Thank you James F. While we're at it, can I be rewarded for braving the cold, and doing my part for relieving traffic conjestion, global warming, and sticking it to the oil companies by driving my little scooter? I've gotten three parking tickets in the past year for parking in alleys and on extra-wide sidewalks (next to the bike rack). Needing to park my scooter on the street in spaces designed for cars and trucks is a terrible use of parking space. How about a revolution of common sense?

kevin bracken

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:52:14 -0800

the reason Mark Kingwell called New York the "capital of the 20th century" was because of what he calls the symbol of the city and the century: jaywalkers.

Matt Silvie

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:24:00 -0800

Donte, a friend of mine got ticketed for jay walking in Seattle and the fine was $43. She fought it in court and lost. I think there's got to be a steeper fine for doing as you say and lie to the cops and give false names and shit but I got no clue what that fine would be, sport.

Tom

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:12:54 -0800

The jaywalk-jackboots are pretty nasty on the Ave. This is an outgrowth of the situation in which they love harassing people on the Ave --be they University kids or street kids-- with relative impunity. Granted, the area is pretty skimey these days and most of us probably deserve a shake-down; however, on the Ave everybody is a suspect and the jackbooted porkchops run around like they own the joint.

donte

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:06:36 -0800

so how do these fines/tickets work? is this some honor code type thing? can't you get stopped, say you don't have ID/give fake info., then not pay the ticket? or is there some system in place to fight this proposed web of lies?

James F

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:55:13 -0800

I need my city to trust me, as an able-bodied adult, to know how to cross a fucking street.

MvB

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:47:06 -0800

I jaywalk as often as possible downtown. It's all part of the plan for the peaceful pedestrian revolution. First we bring traffic to a halt, then we invite people to get out of their cars and stretch their legs.