Auckland’s Jay-Walkers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 447, 31 August 1928, Page 8

Auckland’s Jay-Walkers

CHANCE-TAKING IN PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC

THE technical term for the indiscriminately erratic pedestrian is a “ jay-walker.” Hundreds of them frequent the streets of Auckland city every day. Hundreds of wellintentioned people, therefore, are diverted daily from the well-ordered path of progress and compelled to adopt the law of every being for itself. Although recommended to do so several times, the City Council has declined to make a universal rule for right angle crossing at intersections.

The sight of a uniformed constable | threading his precarious way through the pedestrian traffic at crowded parts of Queen Street impresses the observer with the futility of the sign, “Keep to the Left,” which virtually applies as much on the footpath as it does on the road. But then, as the Aucklander will correctly inform the visitor, the control of traffic on the sidewalk is part of the city’s job, and the ! onus is upon the city to keep the throng of shoppers and gossipers I either moving steadily or grouped on

the outer edge of the pavement. An occasional generously disposed policeman, be it said, does deal with awkward hold-ups. Endeavours have been made at dif ferent times to keep the people on side by defined lines down the centre of the footpath, but the difficulty in this is to secure a white mark of a permanent nature, to keep their obligations constantly before the eyes of the pedestrians themselves. At street intersections, however, the chief problem is apparent, and this is where the “jay-walker” becomes not only a nuisance to his fellows, but a menace and a danger to motorists. The bank clerk who leaves the office at 5.1 p.m., and must be through the turnstile at the Ferry Buildings by 5.5 p.m., improves his journey to the boat by cut-

ting diagonally across the street intersection, amid the busy motor traffic: the office flapper, who possesses as much claim as her bank clerk friend to a seat on the same ferry boat, per sists in adding that last daub of powder in front of her miniature mirror as she walks over the street corner: while the good lady of the household, who has been purchasing the provi sions for both the bank clerk and the office flapper, simply has not time to take anything but a short cut. PEOPLE’S RESPONSIBILITY

So they all take their chances in ! the vortex of motor-cars and trucks, and plunge across. The right-angle crossing for pedestrians was instituted here some time ago, but instead of adopting the sug gestion of the chief traffic officer, Mr. G. R. Hogan, to make the rule universal throughout the city, the City Council confined a specially-worded by-law to the intersection of Queen Street and Customs Street, and the corner of Queen Street and Quay Street, and to “other such places as the council may decide from time to time.” Education of the people to a sense of responsibility, not only to them selves but to other people, has been found to be essential in any move toward the preservation of public safety, and, as was correctly pointed out to the council some time ago, motorists who break the law find themselves in court. Pedestrians in Auckland, though actually liable, have escaped so far. In April of last year the City Council decided that after due warning had been given, the by-law affecting the rule of pedestrian traffic was to be enforced. So far, however, no prosecutions have been brought, though daily infringement admittedly is being committed by hundreds of Aucklanders. PERPETUAL STRUGGLE

The City Traffic Department has control of all traffic in the city, motor and pedestrian, but not enough officers are available for footpath control because of the constant attention required for general road supervision. It is possible that nothing tangible will be done to redeem this —one of Auckland’s many sins—until the crossing by-law is made effective throughout the city,' and the people are impressed with the reality of their obligations. Meanwhile, the scene at our street corners is a busy one, and as the stranger to Auckland views the perpetual struggle between pedal and motor, and marvels at the enduring existence of those on foot, he instinctively murmurs: “And may the best man win.”