Do drivers not realize they need to stop for pedestrians in Chicago? (Ashland: crime, school)

[linicx]

It would put people to work, too!

[Chi-town Native]

I'd love to see this culture changed as well, I will say as a 40 year old I had never heard of this law until a year ago.

I suspect re-wiring people like me would be really, really tough - and I'm sympathetic & would be willing to do so, but the prospect for some serious unintended consequences would be if someone like me just starts coming to a halt one day and then the drivers behind just swerve right around me (like drivers do with left-turners).


Perhaps crosswalks on minor streets on the big arterials (4 lanes) could be removed or marked differently *if* the City gets serious about enforcing this law, because as Attrill was suggesting, it's likely that 4 lanes of traffic on a designated arterial street like Western will not come crashing to a halt due to sight line problems and the fact this law has never been enforced.

Of course, I'd like to see police regularly ticketing motorists for a dozen or so routine driving infractions, and it just never happens.

[oddstray]

That drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks certainly wasn't true when I was a kid growing up in Chicago. Did something change? Or are you referring only to right-turns-on-red?

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by oddstray

That drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks certainly wasn't true when I was a kid growing up in Chicago. Did something change? Or are you referring only to right-turns-on-red?

It's always been the case but hasn't ever been enforced.

[madpaddy]

Originally Posted by almost3am

It is such a difference between L.A. and Chicago. In LA, pedestrians waited at corners for the walk sign and drivers respected crosswalks. It goes both ways in Chicago, people just randomly cross the roads and drivers don't stop.

I found it unnerving when I lived in Monterey, CA, that traffic would stop in both directions any time you stood on the side of the road, even if it was 4 lanes and even if it wasn't a designated crosswalk. I grew up in Illinois and was used to waiting for a gap in traffic. Guess its all about what you're accustomed to.

[tribecavsbrowns]

Crosswalks should be done away with entirely. Cross at the light or you're on your own.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by tribecavsbrowns

Crosswalks should be done away with entirely. Cross at the light or you're on your own.

That would be a huge inconvenience on some streets.

[ParkerP]

Originally Posted by oddstray

That drivers are required to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks certainly wasn't true when I was a kid growing up in Chicago. Did something change? Or are you referring only to right-turns-on-red?

That's what I thought LOL, particularly if you aren't crossing at a walk that has a light or stop sign, you better make damn sure you look both ways before crossing the street and not just assume traffic is going to stop for you. Hell if it is a law, the police must not know much about it because they break it daily themselves. I've never seen them stop for a pedestrian with no stop light or sign at the crosswalk.

[dewthedru]

Originally Posted by tribecavsbrowns

Crosswalks should be done away with entirely. Cross at the light or you're on your own.

fantastic idea. this means the old lady next to us would only have to walk 1/2 mile to get to the neighbor across the street.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by almost3am

It is such a difference between L.A. and Chicago. In LA, pedestrians waited at corners for the walk sign and drivers respected crosswalks. It goes both ways in Chicago, people just randomly cross the roads and drivers don't stop.

Um, no one really bothers to use the cross walks out here either.