Don’t Walk

Walking in New York City is hard. Some people are afraid to drive in the city, but they should really be afraid to walk. Now don’t get me wrong — I have been walking to and from work and Grand Central Terminal for over ten years. I often describe NYC as the only place where you can walk on the street thinking all of the drivers are idiots, then get in your car and think all of the pedestrians are idiots.

Dealing with Traffic Lights

The traffic lights are designed to control the flow of traffic and as a result, pedestrians. When at a corner with a red light, a big red hand appears signaling walkers to STOP. However, in NYC this is only a suggestion. If traffic in your path is at a stop, then you simply wiggle through the cars and proceed. Or if a driver lags and allows even a car length to form, the more daring walkers will sprint across risking the spilling of their Starbucks coffee. No worries, there’s a Starbucks at the next corner. If you do decide to heed the “Don’t Walk” sign, only the meek actually wait on the sidewalk. Most people step into the street, slowly clogging the artery with this human cholesterol.

I have visited many cities and always notice how people react to the pedestrian signals. In San Diego, I stood among a dozen people waiting for the “Walk” signal on a street where no cars passed for the duration of the light. At the next corner, needless to say, I left these obedient pedestrians as I continued down the trafficless streets. I always expect that if ever presented with a “jay walking” ticket, I would just use the excuse that I was from New York, and perhaps they would “fuhget about it.”

I can always tell the out-of-towners — there the ones that freeze in their tracks when they first see a hint of the flashing red hand. Let me explain how this works. When that hand starts flashing, it’s just a warning. The traffic is still stopped. When it stops flashing, the traffic signal turns amber warning the cars of the pending red light and the stopped traffic will soon get a green light and start driving. This is your last change to begin you crossing attempt. If the stopped traffic is at your corner, this needs to be a quick dash perhaps holding out a hand. Depending on the reaction time of the drivers, you will either be honked at or unnoticed. If the traffic is on the opposite corner, you may walk at a calm pace across the street. By the time the opposing traffic, trying to squeeze through the light, gets out of their way, you will nearly be across, and like a bullfighter, the car will brush past you leaving you unharmed. (no cape required).

Recently however, there has been a change in some of the light patterns. When pedestrians get the green light to walk, cars wishing to turn onto the street you are crossing also have a green light. The rule is to yield to the pedestrians, so these cars have to slowly inch in letting people know their intention of proceeding but not running anyone down. Out of town drivers are sometime too aggressive here and think that the people are in their way. The traffic light people have tried to alleviate this scenario by having a green light for drivers going straight without conflict to pedestrians, but turning traffic has a red light for about a minute. Then they give the pedestrians a Don’t Walk and allow the cars to turn. However, with every cause, there is an effect. Crossing the opposite street, people are waiting for a Walk signal. All of the cars that were going straight have passed. The cars that should be turning are just sitting there with a red light. We all know the sign says Don’t Walk, but the cars are just sitting there, so people decide to walk. Now without ANY warning, the turning cars light turns green and there are people crossing in front of them not understanding what just happened.

It’s not easy. Remember to look both ways and be careful.

Add comment June 9th, 2006