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Q: How come the vast majority of Chinese people won't cross the street if the walk sign isn't green ?
It's so strange. Idk if it's just in Shanghai. I'm talking there could be literally no cars in sight but the walk sign isn't lit so they will stand there 2 minutes and wait. Whenever I go ahead and cross they look at me with a mix of admiration and bewilderment. Are people here THAT used to literally being told when and how to do any and everything in their lives ?
Your question is the answer,traffic is bad enough in China without not obeying the rules in the odd place you can cross safely
in many major cities people are careful crossing the street for 2 reasons they are smart and understand the risks. and jay walking is heavily enforced in some cities and the penalties may include jail time in some cities.
I guess none of you live in Guangzhou. Here they cross the road whenever and where ever they feel like. Sometimes it is like one huge game of human frogger when people advance one lane at a time and stand on the white stripes waiting for an opening so they can advance to the next white stripe.
It really makes driving a little more challenging when you have to look for people standing in the middle of the road like that.
giadrosich:
Same in Changsha. Here, it's any time, any place. Curb, crosswalk, middle of the street, jumping the white barriers, from behind buses, when the traffic light turns green; it don't matter. And if someone is riding a scooter, forget it. You just know they are going to not obey the traffic laws! If I was a driver in "Death Race 2000," I would have been able to rack up about a bazillion points by now!
Xpat.John:
One time I made the huge mistake of going driving after playing GTA IV for 6 hours straight. The temptation was almost too much to bare.
Probably because they don't want to break the law. Some traffic laws are universal. Crossing the road when it's green and staying when it's red is one of those universal rules. Cars go when it's green stop when it's red and slow down when it's yellow like a caution.
They do that in Beijing too I mean running across the street. Since the pedestrian lights and traffic lights don't mesh it's either you have to run across the road or you will have to wait forever.
I remember I crossed the road when it was red one time and this guy says: 'what red means go'? It does when there is an emergency and their are no cars coming.
Maybe it is self-preservation, since they know that any vehicle here in China will not stop to yield to any pedestrian.
Is this question sarcastic? It must be as I have never witnessed the "vast majority" of Chinese waiting for a light of any color. It's like human frogger everywhere I have been.
chiarahz:
Thought the exact same when I was reading the question...I actually had to read it two or three times cause I thought there was something I was missing perhaps...in Hangzhou, nobody waits for the green light. Pedestrians, cars, e-bikes. it's all one big hell of a mess.
Why would you want to walk out on a red light?
Worst. Question. Ever.
Truth be told is the drivers have the right of way. Although most of what I've seen is like most posts, human frogger. But if you cross the road on red and a car hits you, the pedistrain can be sued for damages.
Question what is the definition of a pedestrian crossing in China for a car driver
answer a target rich environment
