The Art of Jaywalking

When I meet someone who does not skitter across an empty street when crossing against a red light, I feel an instant bond with them. They know the road and the way it works and the way they should work with it. They know when they can act and when they shouldn't. When they can cross and when they can't.

Not everyone is an effective jaywalker and those lacking the skill are sometimes a threat to the safety of drivers on the road as well as their own. By not exercising caution, they are less aware of what is going on around them which reduces the amount of care in the execution of a good jaywalk.

So you don't get hurt, I've compiled a list of pointers:

• Nobody wants to hit you- They don't need the hassle or mark on their driving record, so unless they're not paying attention to the road (see below) they should see you.


• Be Aware of Cell Phone Drivers- I don't think this needs much explanation.


• Pay Attention- If anything does hit you, it'll hurt and you won't get to wherever you're going. Be aware of the flow of everything around you.


• Watch The Lights- Like when you're driving, be aware of the traffic lights around you. They'll indicate where traffic is coming from and can help you when in blind spots. They'll also show you when you can cross safely and not.


• Stand on the Yellow Line- If you cross a busy street, do it one direction at a time. Stand on the yellow line and wait for until its safe to cross.

Jaywalking is illegal and depending on your area, you may or may not be ticketed by the police if caught. The above pointers should be exercised with caution and used rationally according to your situation. I will not be held responsible for your death or injury if you are plowed over by a bike courier.

    Happy Jaywalking!

One of the most important things to take note of when jaywalking is to remain calm. All too often you can see would-be jaywalkers cross a lane or two only to run back to their starting point because they see incoming traffic and panic.

Jaywalking, in fact, should be treated in the same way you would treat a martial art or a sport. Be composed, confident, and examine the situation on the road analytically.

Understanding how traffic works is crucial at this step. You should be able to predict where vehicles will be coming from, how they will travel, which lanes they will take. Always remember that traffic is dynamic, so do not look for empty stretches of road; instead, be able to notice situations where partial openings are available consecutively.

To illustrate this, take a situation where you are crossing a road with four lanes. On the first lane there is a car travelling at a decent speed, while on the third and forth lanes there are motorcycles moving much faster than the car. Time yourself such that you will be able to cross the first two lanes before the car reaches you, and by then be able to cross the last two lanes as the motorcycles have whizzed past.

Once you begin that exhilarating first step onto the tar, enter the Mode. Be aware of everything occuring around you, do not be surprised by anything, and adjust yourself to the situation in an appropriate manner.

Car suddenly speed up? No matter, either quicken your footsteps or slow down. Remember: NEVER PANIC.

Practice jaywalking across easy streets first, and only take on larger roads when you feel more sure of yourself. Soon, you too will be able to cross a 6-lane expressway in heavy traffic without getting killed in the process!

Safety notice: If a proper crossing is easily available, I'd advise you to use it instead. Jaywalking is fun and useful, but it can be dangerous, so always take personal safety as your utmost consideration. Also, the disclaimer in the previous write-up applies: The above pointers should be exercised with caution and used rationally according to your situation. I will not be held responsible for your death or injury if you are plowed over by a bike courier.