The Washington herald., 1922-11-10
Enough of "Jay-WaIking."

~ Washington pedestrians who hear of pro-
posed penalties for walking the street in
the wrong way. 1t will be simple enough to reg
ulate the movement of Sidewalk crowds at cross
ngs where traffic policemen stationed The
biuecoats can signal the pedestrians across the
street with hand while he holds up automo-
bile traffic with the other. Persons who deliber-
ately venture into the. thoroughfare against the
signals should, perhaps. be held responsible for
any accidents.
But very few accidents happen at crossings
where traffic policemen stationed. "Jay-wak
ing" in such places is just a nuisance. 1t is not
of much danger. 1t may send the police
to St. Elzabeth's before his time-but it is
not likely to result in many broken skulls and
smashed cars. Drivers usually particularly
careful when the eyes OF the law are upon them.
But what is "jay-walking" at Thomas Circle?
What is "jay-walking" across Pennsylvania avenue
at Eleventh street?
Take the first mentioned place, for example.
The pedestrian first must look in four directions
at once and then, even at quiet times, judge his
running capacity to nicely in getting the
street. He must determine with fractional ac-
curacy the speed OF approaching automobiles.
Otherwise he will be knocked down and, perhaps,
killed
Does "jay-walkng" at Thomas Circle consist
OF some deficiency in vision which prevents a
pedestrian from seeing in four directions at the
time lack OF ability to Judge speed with
fractional accuracy? Or perhaps it is inability to
fast.
There is simpler Interpretation OF the term
an Interpretation which most of the professional
critics who use it perhaps place upon it. To them
a "jay-walker' is who careessly ventures
across the street in the middle OF a block, who
displays consideration for the automobile
driver. We have defense for such people
But we would like TO the term confined to
such people We urge earnestly that folks cross,
where possible, at street intersections and regu-
latlonS forcing them to do might be in order
But VIC dislike to hear an insulting term applied
TO folks who get in the way of cars through no
fault of their own.
VIC arc ready to admit that tho pedestrian is
often at fault. Much greater skill is required to
cross Thomas Circle foot than to drive around
Thomas Circle in automobile. Only years of
experience, in the course of which degree OF
intuition is developed, will enable the average cit
zen to get across with any degree of safety Ii
'Jay-walking," as the term is interpreted by many
drivers, is to be punished it will be necessary for
most folks who can't afford an automobile to take
a university course before they can live inside the
law.
And VIC would like to see tho most agile ~
these fellows who talk about the "jay-walkers" try
to cross the Avenue at Eleventh street at s:3o
p. m. Perhaps some of them could demonstrate
how the crossing can be accomplished by men
and on foot.
1t always is bit irritating to hear automo-
bile drivers these darn boobs" when they
are Obliged to step on their brakes at Thomas
Circle or on the Avenue at Eleventh-or in A hun
dred similar places scattered throughout the Dis
trlct- lhe driver seems to insinuate that he is a
superior sort OF person-that if he were walking
instead OF riding he would perform that function
IN different fashion. But he wouldn't in most
cases. The day after his license was taken awav
from him he would become as much of "iav
walker as the worst of those whom he now ridi-
eules from his leather throne behind the wheel
We do not mean to abSolve the pedestrian
entirely-to damn the automobile driver for every
accident. Perhaps conditions have changed so
radically in the past few years that nobody can
be blamed. But VIC do feel that the term lay
walker" is used too looscly-that the average per
son who uses it has conception of what walk
ing through trahc IS We feel that it is an insult
to men and women who arc injured despite their
honest efforts to accomplish the supcrhuman.
One remedy is traffic policemen Sta
toned dangerous street intersections tbrougbout
the District. But the entire Metropolitap force
would not be sufficient 10 guard pedestrians ade.
quately.
Automobile drivers have been protesting uuitc
vigorously for the past month or SO concerning
the clumsiness and ignorance OF people who walk.
Scores of suggestions for reducing accidents have
been offered-all calling for more stringent repu-
lation of the pedestrian We have read and lis
tened to these with continual sensation Ct
doubt
Traffic policemen protest that mprudcnt men
,,,I
of traffic. We admit that they do so some
times. We have done il ourselves. Our defense
is that after carefully surveying the surroundings
Ii .nlcl,tir,.