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Channel 4 uncovers the shame of Boston
By adamg on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 11:40am
Channel 4 rips the scab right off our sordid secret: We jaywalk.
Everywhere David went in the city he saw people ignoring the "do not walk" signals and crossing whenever they want. Call it a crime of convenience.
What's that you say? You just flew in from Wyoming and don't understand what jaywalking is? Don't worry: Channel 4 breaks it down for you:
Jaywalking is crossing the street and not using the crosswalk when it's within 300 feet.
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Comments
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The fine should be at least $100. Jaywalking adds to the frustration of driving in and around Boston. Sometimes you can be only a few cars back from a red light but not make the green light due to all the jaywalkers who block the first cars at the light? Those delays add up, a fifteen minute drive ends up taking a half an hour. Additionally, on the revenue side of it, the money generated by fines could really be a shot in the arm for the State/Cities/Towns.
The real problem
Lack of enforcement of all traffic laws on all citizens. Sure, jaywalking is a nuisance. So is nearly getting run down on a bicycle near Government Center because some asshat driving a school bus decided that a red light didn't apply to her.
Why should we cater to those
Why should we cater to those in cars, polluting out air and using our oil?
Get out of your car and join the jaywalkers.
Also, if the don't walk signs actually worked and werent all on random systems, maybe people would pay attention to them. On my daily walking route, I have to remember which dont walk sign actually means cars about to get green and which ones arent.
Note to the city: Putting a dont walk sign so cars can have time to turn will never work, and only render the entire signal useless.
Agreed
Peds and bikes have never been and will never be the problem. As a bike commuter who does indeed stop at every red light, I can tell you that between Davis and Coolidge Corner I see at least three cars run red lights EVERY DAY, EVERY TRIP. Fine the crap out of cars, I say. If you can't afford it, get a bike, or walk.
If you just flew in from Wyoming ...
... then you would already know what jaywalking is and why you don't do it.
It is Bostonians that have never heard of jaywalking and look sideways at you if you point out that they will get a ticket in many cities if they do it. Just look at the Herald comment threads when Manny was being Manny and was told to hike it back to the curb!
texting while crossing a busy city street
Actually, as a Bostonian, I do obey the don't walk signs. From my observation, it is the giggling gaggle of girls texting while crossing the street into oncoming traffic that is the most frequent offender. I dare say they are suburbanites in the city for some shopping, and not Bostonians.
Boston can be quite bad for jaywalking, however I've never experienced anything quite on the level of Central Square in Cambridge. There are several crosswalks where law-abiding cars do stop for pedestrians, however pedestrians still cross wherever they please.
It's wey beyond stupid.
Texting while crossing a busy city street is taking one's life in their hands, especially here in Boston, where drivers are often known for aggressivity and non-alertness.
If those signs actually
If those signs actually worked correctly, Bostonians might actually take heed. Go to Cambridge, where the walk signs actually do what they're supposed to - I know I've seen a lot fewer people jaywalking there.
Absolutely
Most pedestrians ignore the walk/don't walk signals in Boston because so many of them are timed so poorly. Cambridge makes most of their signals concurrent, meaning that people can cross legally when parallel traffic has a green light. This reduces delay for cars and pedestrians, and people typically obey the lights. People respond to the cues they're given, and if the perception is the light is making them wait unnecessarily, they will simply ignore it.
secret is actually not quite that amusing
The comments here show pretty clearly why nothing ever gets done in this town. We think of reasons why it won't work, while people stew in their cars and eventually start running red lights and ignoring crosswalk/school bus/etc. laws. We may mock out of towners but they know how to get around efficiently and safely. Meanwhile, a local kid recently learned the hard way in NYC that crosswalks are there for a reason. He was hit by a taxi and didn't make it.
For a "smart" city, we sure are stupid.
Maybe so, but ...
My problem with the story is that they buried the lead. Instead of just getting right to the point and blaring "The city is planning a major new push against jaywalkers," it starts out as if we should all be as shocked that Bostonians jaywalk as the reporter is pretending to be. That's just stupid.
Ouch!
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