Statement from Transportation Alternatives after City Council Votes to Legalize Jaywalking

In 2022, 85% of jaywalking tickets were issued to New Yorkers of color.

From 2012-2022, one in three tickets was given out within 300 feet of a NYCHA building – although this area makes up just 4% of the city’s land.

NEW YORK — Today, Transportation Alternatives released the following statement after the City Council voted to pass Intro 0346, which will legalize jaywalking.

Statement from Elizabeth Adams, Interim Co-Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives: 

“Most New Yorkers jaywalk, but enforcement disproportionately, overwhelmingly, and unfairly targets Black and brown New Yorkers. Today, that changes.”

“We’ve supported legalizing jaywalking for years, and it’s past time for the City to take this outdated policy off the books. Criminalizing jaywalking makes no one safer.”

“New York City is one of the very first cities in the country to legalize jaywalking. This is a historic moment, and an important step forward for our city. This bill alone isn’t enough – our city must do more to affirm pedestrians’ rights and redesign our streets, especially during one of the deadliest years for pedestrians in the past decade – but it will undoubtedly improve New York City.”