Eating a slice of New York pizza, taking a walk through Central Park, and strolling along the busy sidewalks of Manhattan are quintessential elements of New York City life that many tourists dream of doing. For many locals, jaywalking (crossing the road without regard for traffic signs) has also long been considered a rite of passage.

With recent legal changes, jaywalking is now officially allowed, but travelers should still look both ways before following locals onto the street.

In September, the City Council passed legislation allowing pedestrians to cross the street at any time without respecting traffic signals. Last weekend, the bill became law after Mayor Eric Adams failed to sign or veto it within 30 days.

Jaywalking, previously illegal in New York since 1958, carried a fine of up to $250.

And it can be risky. In the past five years, 200 people have died crossing the street in the middle of a block or against traffic signals, accounting for about 34% of all pedestrian deaths, according to testimony from the New York City Department of Transportation.

Supporters of the bill, including one of the sponsors, Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, believe this legislation is a step toward improving racial justice. Historically, New York police officers have faced criticism for ticketing people of color for jaywalking.

“In 2023, more than 92% of jaywalking tickets went to Black and Latino New Yorkers,” he said in an emailed statement.

Now that the law has been passed, Narcisse believes officers can focus on the real concerns of the community.

“Police officers have told me they prefer to focus on real public safety efforts, not issuing tickets for crossing the street.”

The law allowing jaywalking will officially go into effect in February, but it does not eliminate the risks associated with this long-standing practice.

Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the mayor, emphasized the dangers of jaywalking in a statement, noting that the bill makes clear that jaywalking against a light and in the middle of a block is highly risky behavior.

“All road users are safer when everyone follows the rules of the road,” he said, adding that pedestrians should “take advantage of safety mechanisms” at intersections and cross “at a pedestrian crossing with the walk signal.” “.

Tourist safety precautions

While residents may feel comfortable walking jaywalking, the practice poses risks to the millions of people who visit New York City. In 2023, 62.2 million people visited the city, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Officemaking it one of the 10 best travel destinations in the world.

People in most countries and cultures will be relatively safe, especially because they might be more inclined to wait for a safe moment to cross or follow crowds, predicts David C. Schwebel, a psychology professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. that studies youth. security.

In other countries where jaywalking is practiced differently and frequently, the story could be different.

“In some Asian countries, for example, jaywalking is very common and typically involves crossing one lane at a time, with pedestrians waiting in the middle of the road to cross the next lane,” Schwebel said by email. “That would be unusual in New York and would create a risk for drivers who are not familiar with pedestrians involved in that practice.”

Whether you jaywalk or not, being aware of your surroundings is essential. The best approach is to stick to designated intersections and scan both directions for approaching vehicles before hitting the road. Avoid distractions like staring at your cell phone.

Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you, especially at night and in low-light situations, such as fog or rainy weather.

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