Jay walking in the burgh?

[sketchbooks]

Oakland is notorious for jaywalking, and specifically for jaywalking while clueless (not looking before crossing, not paying attention while in the road, not listening for ambulances (!!!) )

I think there's nothing wrong with carefully and quickly crossing a street where you need to if it's a half a mile between crosswalks or if pedestrian traffic signals are constantly broken or inexplicably missing (I'm looking at you, Schenley Park!). That's just routing around bad design.

Oakland could use a combination of more mid-block crosswalks (like the ones on Murray Ave, with flashing yellow when someone signals to cross) and more enforcement of all existing traffic laws.

[juliempdx]

I can't get over the story today about the woman who was killed in the cross walk by a school bus in Squirrel Hill.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by juliempdx

I can't get over the story today about the woman who was killed in the cross walk by a school bus in Squirrel Hill.

Yeah, it's sad

[creepsinc]

I take it you're asking because you're from the Northwest. I didn't know it was enforced in Portland, but in Seattle, it's crazy. I've gotten numerous warnings there and I consider myself lucky to have never gotten a ticket. It's the only place I've been where they crack down on jaywalking like that. Consider that when I lived there, we passed a law (by referendum) making possession of POT less of a priority for the police than jaywalking.

[hinsey86]

I moved here from Seattle and it was quite the adjustment. I have nearly taken out two pedestrians. I was here about 8 months and I caught myself jaywalking and figured I had finally assimilated. I still cross at the corners most of the time.

[PeterRabbit]

^^^ Did you move here for the pleasant change of weather? Or because Seatle people are nasty and miserble all the time?

[hinsey86]

Originally Posted by PeterRabbit

^^^ Did you move here for the pleasant change of weather? Or because Seatle people are nasty and miserble all the time?

Neither. I never found that Seattle people were significantly any different than other parts of the country. And I actually have enjoyed the weather in both Seattle and Pittsburgh--much better than the weather in the south where I have also lived.

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by PeterRabbit

^^^ Did you move here for the pleasant change of weather? Or because Seatle people are nasty and miserble all the time?

They're not nasty and miserable all the time. They're just passive-aggressive.