The results of a recent study of pedestrian road crossing behavior suggests that the risks we take as walkers depend largely on our cultural context.
Researchers from France and Japan compared pedestrian behavior at one marked and one unmarked crossing each in the cities of Strasbourg, France, and Inuyama, Japan. The sites were nearly identical in terms of street width, traffic volume, and speed limit.
The behavior of pedestrians at the French and Japanese study locations, meanwhile, differed markedly. At the legal crosswalk in France, 67 percent of pedestrians crossed against the light. In Japan, only 7 percent of crossers disobeyed the crosswalk signals.
And the difference doesn’t just seem to be about whether or not pedestrians follow the rules. “Being a law-abiding citizen might explain the difference in walking at legal crossings,” writes Eric Jaffe, “but the difference that occurred at unmarked crossings suggests that some aversion to risk may play a role, too.” In Strasbourg, jaywalkers stepped into traffic when the space between cars lasted 9 seconds or longer. In Inuyama the threshold was 16 seconds.
FULL STORY: How You Cross the Street Largely Depends on Where You're From

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)