Jaywalking

When you jaywalk, traffic comes at you from two directions -- left and right. When you cross at a corner, traffic also comes from two directions, but they are front and back. Typical pedestrians would rather look sideways as opposed to having to figure out what a car behind them is going to do. My suggestion: Move the crosswalks to the middle of the block. Never mind the crossing signs -- they just use up good electricity. Pittsburghers have survived (mostly) for years while crossing in the middle of the block. Let's just go with it!

DAN ZUNKO
Reserve Township

When I saw this morning's topic I had to laugh. I started a job in early March in the Grant Street area. I cross between the U.S. Steel and the post office/courthouse buildings. I have had very close calls twice -- one this morning. I know I'm going to die in a crosswalk, but it thought it would be in Bellevue. Now I know there's a possibility it'll be on Grant Street!

JANET D. CHRISTIE
Bellevue

There's a new thing that might be considered jaywalking but is even more disruptive. I live in New Jersey, and in small towns and on rural roads, the cool thing is for kids to stand in the middle of the road and talk on their cell phones. I'm not talking about simple stupidity by someone not paying attention but premeditated pacing back and forth no matter how busy or fast the road, pretending to be oblivious to traffic while conversing with someone more important than the driver. I very badly want to run one of these idiots down and was wondering if I should be held accountable of any crime if I did. I would obviously be upset about any damage to my car, but I would be pleased to help make the world a better place.

STEVE BEALL

One recent Saturday, my wife and I stopped in Bloomfield to visit one of the wonderful Italian grocery stores on Liberty Avenue. This store is in the middle of the block. We parked across the street and, being native Pittsburghers, began to jaywalk across Liberty. As we waited for traffic to clear, the driver of an approaching car flashed his headlights and slowed down, so we could safely cross in front of him. As we did, we gave a grateful wave to the Pittsburgh police officer who stopped so we could complete our jaywalk!

GEORGE MATHEWS
Bethel Park

I now live in Germany where the people really are sheep. Jaywalking here is frowned upon. Germans tell me it's a bad example to set for others. In America we jaywalk because it is more efficient and it saves time. Apparently, Germans get some intrinsic satisfaction out of obeying the letter of the law, rather than saving time and being an individual with the ability to think independently. Germans yell at me for jaywalking. It doesn't stop me from doing it; it just makes me laugh.

RON JOSEPH
Green Tree

Pickpocketing

Thank you for writing about my husband Bob Arno and I. One correction: Bob is a CURRENT entertainer from Sweden who HAS a pickpocketing stage act, not a "former" entertainer. Plus, of course, we train police departments, etc. Check www.bobarno.com.

BAMBI VINCENT

If you are interested in pickpocketing, rent "Harry in your Pocket," a 1973 movie starring James Coburn. Besides teaching you how to pickpocket, it's a good film. My husband and I saw the movie when it came out, and we haven't run into anyone else yet who has seen it. We have begun to wonder if we were the only two in the nation who saw that film!

BONNIE SCHLUETER