(Image: Tim Durkan)
A young man so enamored with the sights and sounds of the nearby club scene failed to notice he was jaywalking in one of Capitol Hill’s famously festive intersections Saturday night. Fortunately for the man, the alert driver was able to stop short. Unfortunately, the dramatic hood slide by the hooting and hollering pedestrian did appear to leave a bad impression on both the car and driver. No injuries and only minimal damage were reported.
Broadway Chronicles is a new semiregular series featuring the work of Capitol Hill street photographer Tim Durkan.
I don’t understand, how was he jaywalking if he was in the crosswalk? Did he not have the right of way?
Walking against the light.
Contrary to popular belief just because a ped is in the crosswalk doesn’t mean they can just cross whenever they want – they must follow the crossing signals wherever they’re present. The driver in this case was wholly in the right. That having been said, in the absence of crossing signals, cars are to yield to pedestrians (though logically a pedestrian should use logic, common sense, and have their wits about them and not just waltz out into the street – don’t want to be dead right, eh?).
Should have called SPD and filed a report so could have the paint damaged repaired.
More reasons to avoid Pike/Pine at night. I nearly hit a woman at night, wearing all black and staring at her smart phone, jaywalking at Union and 12th. She never looked up from her phone as my brakes screeched.
Jaywalking is rampant on Capitol Hill, including starting to cross after the “red hand” has started flashing. Some people think they are “too cool” to follow traffic signals. They are there for the safety of all, pedestrians and motorists alike.
Full disclosure: sometimes I jaywalk too, but first I make darn sure there are no cars even close to moving through the intersection.
Some drivers think they are “too cool” to stop at crosswalks for pedestrians.
some people are just assholes, period, and feel entitled to do what they what when they want; regardless of whether they are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, on a bike or on foot.
Some people want it all
But I don’t want nothing at all
If it ain’t you, baby
If I ain’t got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain’t got you, yeah