Jaywalkers don’t go the extra mile to nearest light
WATER GARDENS Breaking the law has become a way of life for many employees here.
Most don’t even realize they’re doing it, but every time they decide to cross a heavily-traveled section of Colorado Avenue without using a crosswalk, they are not only putting themselves in harms’ way, they’re jaywalking.
“It’s kind of like second nature. I don’t even think about it. I just do it,” said an embarrassed Jonathan Wahl, who had just crossed Colorado illegally last week on his way to the Yahoo! Center for lunch. “It’s really just a matter of convenience. You know what they say, the quickest way between two points is a straight line... I don’t even consider going to the corner (of the street) to cross.”
One need only spend five minutes at lunchtime to grasp the severity of the problem. Dozens of people dressed in ties and power suits can be seen swinging their heads from one side to the other, looking for the perfect break in traffic so that they can scurry across.
Others aren’t as concerned and simply step out, expecting traffic to stop. Some who barely look up, choosing instead to bury their noses in a magazine or Blackberry.
In 2006, the Santa Monica Police Department issued 249 citations to those in business districts who crossed roads illegally. Since Jan. 1 2007, officers have issued 112, according to SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla The problem has become so acute on Colorado Boulevard that City Hall is looking to provide more crosswalks for pedestrians and medians to slow down traffic.
“If they had (crosswalks), I’d use them,” said Jay Ginnow, who was enjoying a cigarette with a colleague outside the Water Gardens. “But I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Here in the People’s Republic of Santa Monica, drivers will stop for you. In New York, they’d run right over you.”
DETAILS ARE SKETCHY City Hall embarked on a crosswalk enhancement program back in 1998 after conducting a city-wide evaluation of intersections. The effort was initiated in response to complaints from residents who felt motorists were not stopping for pedestrians, even when they were crossing streets legally.
Last year, the SMPD issued 661 tickets to drivers who failed to stop when pedestrians were in a marked crosswalk. So far this year, officers have issued 228 tickets, with officers often conducting stings to catch motorists who fail to yield for those on foot.
A study by city staff focused on 10 major corridors, totaling close to 25 miles of roadway and hundreds of intersections — covering the entire length of Pico, Montana, Wilshire, Santa Monica and Ocean Park boulevards, Ocean Avenue, Neilson Way, Broadway and 26th Street.
In 2001, the council authorized traffic improvements for Colorado Boulevard, between 20th Street and Centinela Avenue.
Workshops were held and residents gave suggestions on how to best handle long stretches of corridor where there are no marked crosswalks, but plenty of people who work at MTV, Sony, Yahoo and other major corporations. Suggestions included lighted crosswalks, medians and curb extensions.
Tony Antich, City Hall’s lead engineer, said drawings for the improvements between 20th Street and Centinela are about 90 percent complete and staff is expected to go out for bids within the coming months.
In the meantime, workers will likely continue to jaywalk, a term that originated in the early part of the century referring to a naive, “countrified” individual or “jay,” who was unfamiliar to the ways of the city and would cross the street in an erratic fashion, without paying too much attention to signals.
Now, the term seems better suited for an impatient, city dweller too busy to be bothered with the rules.
“I haven’t seen any close calls here. To be honest, people stop,” said Dave Heib. “Crosswalks would make it safer, but they would really screw up traffic. Which would you rather have?”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 22, 2007. Read the original PDF.