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Comment by hmottestad | Hacker News Reader

In Norway pedestrians have the right of way on zebras. There was a fair bit of discussion a few years ago about how someone jogging in the dark would dart across a zebra and then drivers had to slam on the brakes not to hit them.

As a driver though, most roads to my right have the right of way. So if there is a road to the right where the view is blocked by some bushes or a house ... I will slow down just in case a car could pop out of there. That is what right of way means.

I also do this for zebras. I will slow down just in case, unless I'm sure that no one could possibly cross.

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> In Norway pedestrians have the right of way on zebras.

For only a moment, my brain thought you meant that Norwegians riding zebras had the right of way, but half a second later my brain realized they could no longer be considered pedestrians if they were riding an animal. Is "zebra" the real term for "crosswalk" and I've been wrong my whole life?

There are many types of pedestrian crossings. Zebra, Pelican, Toucan, Tiger, etc.

I grew up with British english. Might be why.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_crossing

Genuine question: don't pedestrians have the right of way on crosswalks/zebras everywhere? I thought it's the very idea of having the crossing in the first place.

In Italy and also bigger cities in France you probably only have the right of way if they hit you. I remember once in Paris standing at a main road for 5 min waiting for someone, anyone, to even slow down slightly. When I did try to venture across the zebra the cars all had to stomp on their brakes as if they were surprised that waiting at a regular zebra meant I intended to cross.

Pedestrian crossings in Paris really are a leap of faith, you just have to be assertive and walk out hoping the driver isn't looking at their phone, otherwise you'll stand there for hours because no-one will stop for you.

>Pedestrian crossings in Paris really are a leap of faith, you just have to be assertive and walk out hoping the driver isn't looking at their phone, otherwise you'll stand there for hours because no-one will stop for you.

Which, I guess, is why I felt so comfortable while in Paris. Exactly the same is true in NYC.

> In Norway pedestrians have the right of way on zebras.

Context for those who don’t know: zebras are crosswalks.

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