Read on Twitter
This person does not deserve a response, but this entitled attitude of many drivers highlights a problematic dynamic in our society, which is that we plan infrastructure around cars, signaling that drivers own the public right of way 1/
This is a recent phenomenon. Historically, "roads" were for pedestrians, cyclists, and horses. When cars were invented, they had to yield to everyone else. There were no crosswalks or lanes or lights. They were not paved 2/
In fact, cyclists were the first advocates for paved roads in the 1890s 3/ https://www.vox.com/2015/3/19/8253035/roads-cyclists-cars-history">https://www.vox.com/2015/3/19...
Another fun fact. The term "jaywalker" derives from the word "Jay, " a classiest slur referring to people from outside the town center who drove around streets in a dangerous way because they were lost and unfamiliar with etiquette. It referred to drivers, not pedestrians. 4/
Jaywalking is also not a crime in other countries. It& #39;s disproportionately enforced in Black communities, and often the person cited didn& #39;t technically break the law, because officers do not understand the details of jaywalking laws. 5/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/17/us-jaywalking-laws-target-people-of-colour-they-should-be-abolished">https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...
To sum up, streets do not belong to cars. They were essentially stolen. One thing that has concerned me recently is the use of cars as weapons, especially against protesters. And the response from law enforcement that people should not be walking in the road. It& #39;s 100% wrong. 6/
People like Matt Walsh elevating this violent, racist, and factually incorrect information is dangerous. That said, we need more infrastructure for people rather than cars, to help avoid these dangerous interactions with both people like him, and with law enforcement. 7/7
