Richard Huff's Seattle Social Blog

Time around the holidays flies faster than a jet plane. Melissa and I got back from Paris on the 5th of December, but I'm only now getting a chance to catch up on my blog.

Our second day in Paris (a Sunday) was spent casually walking around the city. There was so much to take in that I didn't even try to keep track of where we were on a map. Those tourist types that you find fingering a map at the corner of an intersection never really impressed me anyway. Melissa's knowledge of the city from when she lived in Paris kept us from getting lost.

Place des Vosges, Place de la Bastille, Ile St-Louis, Notre Dame de Paris, and La Tour Eiffel were all on our Sunday walk. Take a look at the photo collection.

I don't understand the problem pedestrians seem have with the concept of simply obeying traffic signals. I've already checked -- there isn't a memo that excuses pedestrians from RCW 46.61.050 ("Obedience to and required traffic control devices"), which governs BOTH automobile and pedestrian obedience of said signals. Most drivers wouldn't feel it appropriate to ignore the meaning of a red light at a signal-controlled intersection. Why then do those same individuals criminally flaunt the exact same law when on foot?

Let's first dispel the myth that it isn't against the law to cross an intersection against the light. It is against the law. Not only does RCW 46.61.050 make that clear, the 1,964 citations issued by police in 2006 should calcify the matter for you. The law, however, doesn't have to be the only motivation for crossing with the light. Bodily harm is what motivates me. The area's rate for pedestrian fatalities is nearly twice the national average. Although jaywalking isn't responsible for all the pedestrian accidents, why would anyone want to add to the statistic?

Don't cross against the light. It's that simple. Civil disobedience is a poor excuse. Find a more significant cause.