Is Jaywalking allowed ? (Chicago: crimes, safer, cars)

[koctail]

When walking in the loop, I often jaywalk, i.e cross the street in the middle, away from the cross-path. This saves times as I can walk along a diagonal and don't have to be stopped waiting for the walk light. I also find it safer since you don't have to worry about turning cars, i.e you just look left and right.. I am curious if anyone has ever been ticketed for jaywalking? Or maybe I am not understanding what jaywalking is?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by koctail

When walking in the loop, I often jaywalk, i.e cross the street in the middle, away from the cross-path. This saves times as I can walk along a diagonal and don't have to be stopped waiting for the walk light. I also find it safer since you don't have to worry about turning cars, i.e you just look left and right.. I am curious if anyone has ever been ticketed for jaywalking? Or maybe I am not understanding what jaywalking is?

Everyone does it. I do it infront of cops and none of them care here because they know there's way more serious crimes you could commit. I could see maybe if you jaywalked right infront of oncoming traffic, but nah.

[Chicago South Sider]

Chicago isn't LA or Vegas. Jaywalking is not an issue here unless a car is heading straight towards you.

[Thepreacherswife]

On the flip side, don't start crossing a major thoroughfare at a marked crosswalk where there are no signals or stop signs and expect cars to slow down or stop for you.

[jonnynonos]

The cops generally won't bother you here unless you are 1) driving a cab 2) actively shooting someone in the head

It is illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk and I have ridden past cops on my bike about 5,000 times and they just watch you.

In fact yesterday one, who was also riding his bike on the sidewalk, got out of the way so I could pass.

I think they think of themselves more like soldiers than cops and wouldn't deign to do something so goofy as ticket someone for an on-foot/bike violation, unless you were really causing a problem, terrorizing people etc.

[Warsie]

re: Jaywalking it is technically illegal but this ain't Singapore so it's not enforced for jack.

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

It is illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk and I have ridden past cops on my bike about 5,000 times and they just watch you.

The one time they told me "you can't ride on the sidwalks" was during the NATO summit biking on Michigan Ave. And it was never mentioned again or anything like thay

[jpchi60630]

i jay walk before i go jay walkin and then i jaywalk some more... sounds like goin to the taste LOL - people walk where they want however they want. the point is to do it and try not to get it someones way or time it right. kinda like how people drive around here. might not always be inside the lines all the time, but if timed well, and nobody has to honk, then its legit. there is an unsaid expectation of common sense of course.... hope that helped.

[rparz]

This is why I love Chicago, the cops have better stuff to do then bust your balls.

No tickets for jaywalking, no tickets for speeding, few for redlights....and amazingly, the whole city hasn't burned down to the ground overnight.

In parts of the country where those are big revenue generators, they'd like you to think not enforcing all these little laws is the equivalent of utter anarchy in the streets.

[Lucky Clover]

Originally Posted by rparz

This is why I love Chicago, the cops have better stuff to do then bust your balls.

No tickets for jaywalking, no tickets for speeding, few for redlights....and amazingly, the whole city hasn't burned down to the ground overnight.

In parts of the country where those are big revenue generators, they'd like you to think not enforcing all these little laws is the equivalent of utter anarchy in the streets.

I've noticed that. That's what I like. I hate when cops nitpick their way into giving out tickets. This is what happens in Texas.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Originally Posted by rparz

This is why I love Chicago, the cops have better stuff to do then bust your balls.

No tickets for jaywalking, no tickets for speeding, few for redlights....and amazingly, the whole city hasn't burned down to the ground overnight.

In parts of the country where those are big revenue generators, they'd like you to think not enforcing all these little laws is the equivalent of utter anarchy in the streets.

No ticket for red lights? Many on the threads have been ticketed by the eye in the sky.
Revenue generator----Speed camera's and red light districts.