RANT OF THE WEEK:

In New York City jaywalking is almost a rule.

Canadians are known as polite people who would not dream of ignoring pedestrian signals at intersections.   I believe that jaywalking is acceptable when it does not interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic.  Most people who jaywalk are careful, intelligent folks with good peripheral vision and judgment.

The concept of pedestrian right- of-way, as I understand it, is to wait for the “little man” icon on the traffic light.  If one has entered the intersection with the blessing of the little man, only to have the “orange hand” show up, then the proper course of action is to continue walking safely to clear the intersection. There is ample time to allow a pedestrian to complete the crossing unless he is severely disabled, a real slow walker or incapacitated due to contact with a vehicle driven by an aggressive driver.

If the orange hand shows up before a pedestrian enters the intersection, then that person does not have the right-of-way; even if said pedestrian is able to run across the intersection before the light changes for opposite traffic flow. This is still jaywalking! Pedestrians who use this maneuver often interfere with vehicles trying to complete right or left turns.