"Jaywalkers" in Chicago . . .

Good news, sorta. Chicago mayor backs off plan to ticket pedestrians, but spins it as an issue of pedestrian safety rather than the original emphasis on drivers' rights and efficient traffic movement. Hmm. While I certainly don't advocate jaywalking, I side with pedestrian rights advocates on this since the crackdown seemed a thinly veiled attack on pedestrians in general and a concession to drivers who already own the road. Hope this gives more momentum to steering the discussion, pun intended, to making cities more sustainable, which means car-free or at least car-lite.

from: Spielman, Fran. "Jaywalkers safe as mayor backs off ticket plan," Chicago Sun-Times, 28 September 2005

After nearly a week of ridicule, Mayor Daley on Tuesday put the brakes on a controversial plan to ticket pedestrians who tie up downtown traffic by jaywalking and racing across streets after the light has changed.

Daley tried his best to be delicate about it. He didn't want to saw off the limb with Andrew Velasquez, the mayoral aide who oversees the Traffic Management Authority, still sitting on it. But, the mayor left little doubt that the plan to bring the hammer down on pedestrians would never see the light of day.

"I don't know about ticketing them. But, it's a safety issue. When someone . . . tries to run across, like Lake Shore Drive, and they get killed, don't blame the city and don't blame the driver,'' Daley said. "Jaywalking is very dangerous. A lot of people get seriously injured or killed. . . .