FLOSSI STEPS OVER JAYWALKING
New York City is one step closer to officially legalizing jaywalking — a common, if technically illegal, practice.
On Thursday, the Department of Transportation (DOT) held a 10 a.m. public hearing, marking the final administrative step to align city rules with a law passed by the City Council in September 2024. Although the rule change isn’t yet in effect, the hearing allowed public input. The DOT will respond later, and the change will take effect 30 days after publication in the official city record.
As of the end of March, Empire Wind had a gross book value of approximately $2.5 billion, with $1.5 billion already drawn from a loan facility. If the project is canceled entirely, Equinor said it would repay the $1.5 billion to project-finance lenders and could be liable for termination fees owed to equipment suppliers and contractors.
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Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, who represents parts of southern Brooklyn, led the push to change the law. She cited racial disparities in enforcement, noting that 90% of tickets in 2023 were issued to Black and Latino individuals.
“Let’s be real — every New Yorker jaywalks,” Narcisse told the Associated Press. “Laws that punish everyday movement shouldn’t exist, especially when they unfairly target communities of color.”
The move follows a broader national trend. Advocacy group America Walks notes that recently, cities and states, including California, Virginia, Nevada, Denver, and Kansas City, have decriminalized jaywalking. The group also points out that the original jaywalking laws were promoted in the 1930s by the auto industry to push pedestrians off the streets and make way for cars.
Why It’s Called Jaywalking
• “Jay” was an insult:
In the early 1900s, “jay” was a derogatory term used to describe someone naïve, foolish, or unsophisticated, particularly in urban areas (like a country bumpkin visiting the city).
• “Jaywalker” meant someone ignorant of city traffic rules:
The term “jaywalker” emerged to describe people who crossed streets carelessly or against traffic signals, suggesting they didn’t know how to behave in the big city.
• Pushed by the auto industry:
Pedestrian deaths soared as cars became more common in the 1910s and 1920s. Car companies and pro-automobile groups started campaigns to shift the blame from drivers to pedestrians, encouraging people to stay out of the street unless they used designated crosswalks.
• Part of a PR effort:
The term “jaywalking” was popularized by automobile lobbies, traffic safety advocates, and newspapers to stigmatize people walking “wrongly” and normalize car dominance of city streets.
First Recorded Use
• The word “jaywalker” began appearing around 1915, and laws were passed shortly after to penalize pedestrians who didn’t follow new traffic rules.
