Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Illinois Crosswalk Laws: Daley backs off plan to ticket pedestrians
"Jaywalkers" in Chicago . . .
Good news, sorta. Chicago mayor backs off plan to ticket pedestrians, but spins it as an issue of pedestrian safety rather than the original emphasis on drivers' rights and efficient traffic movement. Hmm. While I certainly don't advocate jaywalking, I side with pedestrian rights advocates on this since the crackdown seemed a thinly veiled attack on pedestrians in general and a concession to drivers who already own the road. Hope this gives more momentum to steering the discussion, pun intended, to making cities more sustainable, which means car-free or at least car-lite.
from: Spielman, Fran. "Jaywalkers safe as mayor backs off ticket plan," Chicago Sun-Times, 28 September 2005
After nearly a week of ridicule, Mayor Daley on Tuesday put the brakes on a controversial plan to ticket pedestrians who tie up downtown traffic by jaywalking and racing across streets after the light has changed.
Daley tried his best to be delicate about it. He didn't want to saw off the limb with Andrew Velasquez, the mayoral aide who oversees the Traffic Management Authority, still sitting on it. But, the mayor left little doubt that the plan to bring the hammer down on pedestrians would never see the light of day.
"I don't know about ticketing them. But, it's a safety issue. When someone . . . tries to run across, like Lake Shore Drive, and they get killed, don't blame the city and don't blame the driver,'' Daley said. "Jaywalking is very dangerous. A lot of people get seriously injured or killed. . . .
If enough people break the law it ceases to be a crime. Daley sees a lot of voters illegally crossing the streets, which explains his cautioning them to not get killed or ruin it for everybody else by suing the City. The French have parkour; we have the running of the bull-headed on the Adams Street Bridge every day at 4PM!
-MIKE FOULKS
P.S. Does anyone remember the 'That's Incredible' TV show featuring the guy who jumped straight up into the air while a Trans Am zoomed underneath him at like 90mph? ...that was awesome.
It is dangerous to hold up traffic in an intersection by J-walkers.
It doesn't take alot for someone to let a car go by, does it?
A car is a dangerous weapon that can kill someone, just like a gun. Walking in front of a oncoming car, is like walking in front of a loaded gun. Think about this.
What would happen if the brakes on a oncoming car goes out? or, the driver of the oncoming car can't stop quick enough? Who's fault is that? So, why take a chance and blame the driver, when that's the j-walkers own ignorance.
Better for the car to go by and be safe than sorry.
