Dunno man, if we had jaywalking laws here... If that was london the cyclist would be going to court. The ped accepts hes (equally) wrong and all is good. (although I bet hes hurting now...)
nah i dont care about jaywalking laws. theyre shit. regardless of some fucked up pro-motorist law, people should be allowed to cross the road on foot wherever they want as long as they look first. the bloke did look, but some stupid cunt on a bike was coming the wrong way.
jaywalk laws or no jaywalk laws the cyclist is the one in the wrong here. for his sake i hope that this dont happen again but with a large goods vehicle pulling out of a junction.
bloke shoulda looked both ways regardless, could've been a truck reversing. anyhow it's new york which is like the wild west of traffic- yippykayaymotherfucker!
Legal=right, illegal=wrong? Not always. That video puts the 'dangerous cyclists running amok on footpaths and disobey highway code' paranoia into an interesting perspective. All you need is a specific law and out of sudden right is illegal and wrong is legal. I kinda like the idea of police traps all along high ho and oxford street targeting peds running red lights and not using zebra crossings...
watching again it looks like he almost intended to hit the guy, loads of space to avoid a collision there IMO. also riding with a package in hand that small is a n00bs mistake.
Isn't the guy going the wrong way up? If so, he's a f***ing dick, because the 2nd rule of riding the wrong way is 'look for peds, cos they won't be looking for you'.
This was written nearly 20 years ago, but I think it is still relevant.
Outlaws Code of the Road by Daniel Convissor Independent Courier Association News December 1989
We all know how safe most of us ride, how many accidents are the pedestrians fault, and how messengers are constantly injured. But at some points most messengers, and other cyclists as well:
Ride fast Go against the flow of traffic Run red lights Ride on the sidewalk
COOL!
But are you scaring people or causing accidents in the process?
WOAH!
Did you know why the state has laws to ban running lights, riding on the sidewalk, and going the “wrong way?” Do you know why the NYPD is issuing summonses to cyclists? Do you know why there is licensing of messengers and much more severe measures proposed? Do you know why the city tried to ban bicycling in midtown? Do you know why the media puts out reports about “killer messengers?”
Since the number of accidents is quite low, the reason is partially because of near misses between bicyclists and other people, usually pedestrians. Often heard is the complaint “I was almost hit by a messenger.”
We are not asking you to obey all laws or slow down all together, just be safe and courteous. We know time is money, but the few seconds it takes to be cool are much more valuable as public relations than the added efficiency of not having to slow down. The positive public relations make the public like us and will allow the police department to stop harassing careful cyclists and the city will not want to regulate us further. In all actuality this code can and should be used by people in al modes of motion. For the circumstances here we are presenting the code to reduce the heat from other New Yorkers on cyclists. Following the code will make you and the entire bicycling community look good:
Order of Priority
other animal < pedestrian < skater < cyclist < scooter rider < motorcyclist < auto driver < truck driver
The Code
If you encounter one of these creatures that have a higher priority and you are on their turf (sidewalk, etc.) or where the signals give them the right of way (including people crossing where you are turning):
Let them go before you. Go behind their path of motion whenever possible. Don’t go in front of them by less than 10 feet. If less than 10 feet, go through at walking speed. If there is only room for one of you, they go first.
When you are doing something against the flow (riding on the sidewalk, running a red light or going the “wrong way”):
You must go slow. Yield to everyone. Never go fast when you can’t see around something (like a parked, stopped or moving truck; a doorway, column, or corner of a building). The safest way is to go at a creeping speed, look, then proceed.
Look out for people who are also going against the flow. They might not be looking for you, especially at intersections. If you hit or scare someone you are in the wrong and you give us a bad rep.
When approaching people:
Exaggerate your motions. Steer or slow down far in advance so they will not be scared and will proceed. Give some sort of communication (hand, voice, or shaking your head). Whatever you do, communication will increase understanding so will avoid a collision or near miss.
When passing people:
Announce your approach, such as “passing on your left!,” so they will not unintentionally swerve into your path. If you see someone coming into your space, scream! It could save you from being crushed.
This was written by Daniel Convissor, in collaboration with other couriers, for the December 1989 edition of the ICA News, a publication of the Independent Courier Association.