Did you know that the word jaywalking is a construct of the car industry? Yep. To promote the popularity of the automobile and distract the population from the dangers of pedestrian fatalities and injuries, the rights of a person who wants to cross a road on their own two feet has not only been vilified by big business but also legislated (politicians can be bought, who knew) into a legal term. It didn't exist until the car companies conjured it up.
Want to learn more? Read "Street Rivals: Jaywalking and the Invention of the Motor Age Street" by Peter Norton.
By the way, the word jay was a slur back in the day; it meant you were a complete moron and an easy victim. Imagine the dirtiest word you can right now and substitute it for jay. That's what the carmakers thought of you back then. These are the folks you hand your hard earned money over to.
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