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When even the car hating Toronto Star is writing a front page article about Jwalkers, you know its bad!
But of course they advocate fines as well as if thats going to solve the issue!
| quote: | Is jaywalking part of Toronto's culture?Published On Wed Jan 27 2010
Noor Javed
Staff Reporter They are ruthless. They are fearless. They are breaking the law.
With a phone in one hand, lunch in the other, they are also impressively persistent. Nothing, it seems, can thwart a Toronto jaywalker in progress: not the fear of being ticketed, not a horde of speeding cars nor even the daunting size of a truck passing within inches.
At a jaywalking hot spot on Yonge St., just north of Front St., the Star watched people randomly cross the street during the busy lunch rush. In 45 minutes, more than 45 people illegally crossed the road – some of them even forcing a police car to stop to let them cross.
The officer could have given the dozen pedestrians tickets or at least warnings. By law, failing to use a crosswalk or disobeying a "don't walk" signal is a traffic offence warranting a fine of $85.
"Is that so? I had no idea," said Sima Persaud as she crossed in plain sight of the police car. The officer drove off and she went on her way.
Clearly, many of us have been able to avoid reprimand, although Toronto police say they have dished out nearly 225 tickets to pedestrians so far this year.
But on a street like Yonge, where would the police even begin? Would they ticket the two guys in the midst of a deep conversation while they jaywalked? Or the man eating his lunch and talking on the phone as he crossed the street? Or would they stop the group of jaywalkers, who clearly believe there is safety in large numbers?
While the law might not be enough to persuade us to start using a crosswalk, the latest spate of pedestrian deaths mightbe.
In the past month, 14 pedestrians across the GTA have been killed simply trying to cross a street. According to police and witnesses, many of them were jaywalking.
On Monday night, a 38-year-old woman was killed crossing Davenport Rd. near Symington Ave. She was just a few short steps away from a large crosswalk.
The unusually high number of pedestrian deaths has even politicians concerned.
On Tuesday, Toronto Mayor David Miller pleaded with both pedestrians and drivers to be aware when on the road.
"We need Torontonians to help out, too," he said. "Please pay attention."
In Kitchener, Premier Dalton McGuinty dug even deeper: "There is a need to find out if there's something new that's happening that wasn't there before – if this is a coincidence or if this is the result of the advent of different attitudes or if this is the result of different ways we're conducting our lives."
According to some sheepish pedestrians who were caught in the act Tuesday, jaywalking is just part of the culture of Toronto. Why walk a few metres and cross safely, when I can cross from here right now?
"The pace of life in Toronto is so fast," said John Robertson.
"You always feel like you are in a rush, and that you have to rush. Walking to a crosswalk doesn't fit into that."
But many of the jaywalkers admitted that the recent tragic news had made them more cautious about crossing in the middle of a block.
"I am a lot more careful," said Dale Chilvers.
"I watch a lot more closely when I walk. I am too young to die."
But does he ever plan to stop?
"I don't know. I still do it. Everybody does." |
| quote: | THE FOUR SPECIES OF JAYWALKERS
ROADRUNNERS: These speedsters dart across the street whenever there is even a small opening in traffic. They don't look up and make no eye contact with drivers.
CHICKENS: They look both ways before crossing the road. They wait for a break in traffic and say a prayer as they cross the street in a run. They give a prayer of thanks when they reach the other side.
OSTRICHES: These rule-breakers don't actually have their heads in the sane, but in their world traffic doesn't seem to exist. Often on the phone or in rapt conversation, they ignore the hazards as they cross the street, usually safely.
PEACOCKS: These confident jaywalkers look both ways, just once, and calmly strut across the street when the coast is clear. No awkward running. No close calls.
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I have no problem with "peacocks". Im a peacock all the time. Jwalking is fine as long as no cars are coming. The moment a car has to slow down or stop for you is when there is a problem.
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| quote: | Originally posted by jester
Everything in this country is illegal. |
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery…" Winston Churchill
"If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law" - Winston Churchill
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