On this day, 100 yrs ago, cars were given priority over pedestrians in the streets of the US.
It began Jan. 24, 1925, when the 1st "jaywalker" was arrested in Los Angeles.
Until then, it had been a city of walkers, with an extensive street railway network.
Victim shaming started right away...
🚶♂️🧵
It began Jan. 24, 1925, when the 1st "jaywalker" was arrested in Los Angeles.
Until then, it had been a city of walkers, with an extensive street railway network.
Victim shaming started right away...
🚶♂️🧵
Comments
He's also uncovered the fact that a Studebaker dealer was the one who championed the LA Traffic Ordinance, which became a model for the rest of the country.
More here:
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2025/01/21/why-americans-dont-walk-a-forgotten-centennial
The US, and the parts of the world that emulated it, changed for the worse that day. Today: cars kill 1.4 million a year.
Academics call this "motonormativity." But "car brain" works for me.
It's a sad anniversary. Stay safe out there.
https://www.highspeed.blog/motonormativity-2/
https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262516129/fighting-traffic/
https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/asset-management/2A3BF1BT2LR