🚀 go-pugleaf

Mike Cohen (isis@netcom.com) wrote:
: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes:

: >In article <isisCo9FCL.KJJ@netcom.com> isis@netcom.com (Mike Cohen) writes:

: I find that much less frightening that attempting to cross Ventura Blvd. I'm
: always amazed when I make it across alive. I've been hit by cars 3 times since
: I've moved here and have had countless near misses.

Mr. Cohen, at the risk of stating a flame war, could I please ask you just
WHERE on Ventura Blvd. you were attempting to cross, and the state of the
traffic signals?
As a former SF Valley native, I NEVER had any problems crossing on Ventura
as long as I waited for lights, and watched for drivers turning right.
I don't know anyone else who's had the misfortune to be hit 3 times in 6 
years.  I don't suppose you were _jay walking_?
I've found that in other cities, pedestrians will walk when they feel they
are safe, rather than waiting for lights.  Having grown up in a town where
they claim the police will ticket you for jaywalking in the middle of the
night*, I'm astounded every time I see people walking through traffic. . .

* I don't actually know anyone who got a jaywalking ticket in the middle
of the night, but I do have several friends who've been ticketed for jay-
walking.  I'm told most non-Angelenos find this amusing.  As a pedestrian
I know that I wonder what police are doing ticketing for something as
seemingly harmless as jay-walking.  As a driver, and as someone who's sat
in too many emergency rooms hearing about children being hit when they
crossed against the light, I applaud measures to curb this dangerous habit.
Berkeley doesn't enforce it (and given the number of pedestrians, I'm
not surprised) and it makes driving hell.  (Walking in Berkeley, on 
the other hand, is not an unpleasant experience.)


In a related point of interest, does anyone know that origin of the word
"jay-walking"?