Cross the street?

It's interesting the different 'cultures' when it comes to jay walking. On the typical college campus, people pretty much cross wherever they want. In fact, if you're on a bicycle even, you need to watch out for people crossing mindlessly into the road in front of you.

So we have a co-op, named Alec, working for us right now so a few of use went out for some drinks around Hermosa Pier. Around here, they WILL bust you for jay walking. Being the college student he is, he’s about to cross the street at the intersection without the cross walk signal to go. A semi-drunk guy next to him yells at him, “what the hell are you doing?! Are you trying to get killed?!” Alec shrugs his shoulders not comprehending the significance of crossing at the improper time.

Fast forward towards the end of the night and we’re crossing at the crosswalk. There are two other guys crossing in the middle of the road, right behind a cop in an Expedition. Cop flips on the lights and yells at the two guys, “sidewalk not good enough for you guys?” Then Alec looks over to me and says, “I get it now...”

Just another story about crossing streets…. In Frankfurt at least, no one crosses the street unless the signal says to, no matter what! I was there last year for the Frankfurt Auto show with five Indian guys from work. We’re standing at the intersection, looking all directions and there’s not a car within 200 meters. Yet, all the Germans are waiting obediently waiting for the crossing signal. Being the foreigners we were, we said screw it, and crossed the street.