Jaywalking legalized in New York City
Scope of the NYC Change
- Jaywalking (crossing outside crosswalks or against signals) is now legal in NYC.
- Pedestrians may cross anywhere and against signals but must yield to vehicles with right of way.
- At marked/unmarked crosswalks with a walk signal, pedestrians still have right of way.
- Many note this largely matches longstanding NYC practice; main effect is removing a tool for selective enforcement.
Jaywalking Laws & Enforcement
- Multiple comments stress jaywalking violations have been used as pretexts to stop, search, and fine people, disproportionately affecting Black and brown residents (“walking while black”).
- Some describe courtroom examples where judges criticized such pretextual stops.
- Others argue that simply changing the law won’t end harassment; police can still improvise justifications.
Safety & Street Design
- Strong debate over where it’s actually safer to cross:
- One side: mid‑block crossings are safer because there are fewer conflict directions and drivers are looking straight ahead.
- Other side: intersections are safer due to lower speeds and expectation of crossings; some claim (contested) that most pedestrian deaths involve “jaywalking.”
- Counter‑evidence in the thread: most deaths occur on high‑speed arterials, often at night and without sidewalks, not mainly classic dense‑city mid‑block crossings.
- Many emphasize “being right” legally is irrelevant if you’re dead; pedestrians should assume drivers may be inattentive.
- Modern vehicle design (SUVs, thick A‑pillars, higher hoods) is cited as reducing visibility for drivers, especially at intersections.
International & Cultural Comparisons
- Wide range of norms:
- Very strict compliance with signals in parts of Germany, Poland, Austria, Finland, Tokyo/Vienna.
- Lax/“decorative” treatment of signals in southern Europe, Amsterdam, much of the UK.
- Some countries criminalize crossing on red or within X meters of a crosswalk; others treat crossings almost entirely as a matter of judgment.
- Several note campaigns in Germany and elsewhere that framed red‑light crossing as endangering children.
Pedestrians vs Drivers & Urban Priorities
- Big philosophical split:
- Car‑centric view: strict rules for pedestrians are needed because fast, heavy vehicles make free crossing inherently dangerous.
- Pedestrian‑first view: streets existed before cars; jaywalking laws are “regulatory capture” by the auto lobby and encourage hostile, car‑dominated design.
- Some argue that mixing modes with lower speeds and mutual caution (as seen in some European and non‑US cities) can be safer than strict segregation.
- Concern raised that legalizing jaywalking could lead to more physical barriers (fences, railings) if conflicts increase.