Mike's Observations

[Mzo]

I always make jokes about this, too... ok, so you press the button, and wait for the light to change. Isn't that what I'm doing anyway??

So I guess the general consensus is that these things speed up the cycle, but only in certain areas =/

It's not worth it.

[epmode]

has anyone ever been ticketed for jaywalking? I've never seen a cop waste time on that down here in Houston.

i'm quite the jaywalker, but i haven't been caught for it yet. i did see it happen in new york city on more than one occasion. it was right after some crackdown, though.

i've also seen someone ticketed for it at rutgers.

[Mzo]

I'd like to add that the jaywalking situation is out of control in Miami, and I nearly kill a minimum of 4 people a day.

[FirstBlood]

It's that damn pedestrian right of way...

[/bill hicks]

[Diff-chan]

Nobody jaywalks in Los Angeles.

I'm serious.

It's the one law everybody follows.

[Dolemite]

It's true about the jaywalking in California. I was in LA and Santa Monica back in October and NO ONE crossed against the light, even if there wasn't a cop or a car coming in sight. It was the most bizarre thing I've ever seen, being that I live in NY. I thought maybe the street was electrified when the light was red or something.

[Calliander]

But I can attest, as a regular pedestrian around the UCLA area, that they definitely do influence the traffic light patterns. At some intersections.

Right, the patterns. But does it actually make the light(s) change quicker? I'm serious, here.

If I am at a crosswalk (Strathmore & Gayley, for those familiar with the area), and I dont press the button, the lights will not change for an entire cycle. In other words, hmm...

Yeah, at 3rd & Pine in Long Beach, it's totally automated. No matter the time of day, those pedestrians will always get the walk signal. However, next intersection over, 3rd & Pacific, if you don't push the button you don't get the light.

If nobody presses the button, then it skips that yellow/red and just keeps with the green. So its not that the button makes the lights change faster, it just keeps it on its normal cycle.

Right. So I think, in conclusion, that my observation is of generally stupid behavior.

Nobody jaywalks in Los Angeles.

I'm serious.

It's the one law everybody follows.

I used to not jaywalk when I first moved here.

If I'm in a hurry now, I'll walk. Otherwise, there's no rush so I don't see the point of doing something potentially dangerous.

But yeah, it's crazy that they always wait. You go to the Yale campus and there's traffic just because the students don't give two shits and will walk anywhere they please, whenever they want.

[Mman]

Stories about walking...

When I worked in downtown Milwaukee, I cross the street when I can. I only have so much time for lunch, avoiding the line for chinese food is worth getting hit in my opinion.

Here at campus we have a crosswalk going between campus and the dorms. Loads of kids cross there between classes. It backs up traffic in our tiny little town, and I love it. The students own that little peice of land, and we walk across it no matter who is coming down the street or how fast. Hey, crosswalk = we walk, you stop.

When I was in vegas I said fuck it and crossed a side street to the strip even though I had the flashing hand sign. My brother and friend didnt try it. I fucking got stuck in the middle of the street, with cars turning off and on the strip, totally surrounding me. It was a scary thing. Worst of all were those damn limo drivers that turn so widely. I thought for sure I was going to lose a toe.

[Doc Holliday]

Nobody jaywalks in Los Angeles.

I'm serious.

It's the one law everybody follows.

People walk in LA?

[Calliander]

People walk in LA?

It's funny you ask that because there are so many goddamned cripples in downtown Long Beach that you would be amazed. I just wanna hit the invalids with my car sometimes... scooting across the street on their fancy chairs.