Hey, British People

[fabrisse]

Is there a word in British vernacular for crossing a street somewhere other than a cross walk?

I ask because I had occasion to warn a couple from London tonight that DC cops ticket for jaywalking, and they were unfamiliar with the term.

Comments

[mecurtin.livejournal.com]

I pretty sure it's not illegal in Britain -- in fact, I recall a conversation when I was last there (which was, admittedly, the 80s) about how bizarre America is because pedestrians can be arrested for crossing the street wrong.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

In that case, I'm even happier that I warned them. We do get more pedestrian involved accidents than most cities from people just not paying attention. (Look, dear, it's the Capitol) But I also suspect it's an easy revenue source for the city.

[snopes-faith.livejournal.com]

No, we don't have a specific term as it isn't an offence here. You did a very nice thing warning that couple! I hope they were grateful but I suspect they were just bemused. I can relate to their "does not compute" feeling but every USA guidebook mentions it and there really is no excuse for not taking the time to familiarise yourself with the local laws

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Some places take it more seriously than others.

I was shocked when I first arrived in Boston where jaywalking is a sport. And after 13 years there, I still have a hard time crossing against a light when no cars are coming. *G*

[mystery-sock.livejournal.com]

I got laughed at for never crossing against the light and never crossing in the middle of the road while I was there... and yet I couldn't train myself out of it. (Same is true in NYC, where you kinda just have to bolt out into the street and yell at people if they get too close, or you'll never get across the road... but still. I'm a "look both ways a minimum of three times before crossing, and look both ways while crossing, too" kind of person. I live in terror of being hit by a car.)

[north-ernlights.livejournal.com]

In Canada, it's even more of an issue. I jaywalk all the time in the USA because I trust my own instinct over cars attempting to stop at a red light. But, apparently, in Canada, you can get fined 500 dollars. I've never even heard of being fined in the USA though I hear Seattle is big on that. But where I've lived, mostly the east coast, NY, NJ, PA, GA, VA - no one gives a shit whether you stay in the lines or not. I just figure - hei, cross when you can, it's common sense (apparently not).

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

This is a Washington versus DC phenomenon. Washington with all its attractions and tourists is where people get stopped for jaywalking. In DC -- the bit poor people live in -- nobody seems to care. I have mixed feelings about that.

As I said above, I think a large part of it is revenue for the city. They don't use it on locals as much (mostly as an addendum to other offenses), but they'll write a citation for that nice tourist who obviously has some spending money.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

I'm with you, sister! They're bigger than me.