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Is "Jaywalking" allowed in Germany?

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VulpesRex:
   I was just reviewing the announcement regarding the InterCityHotel as the official overflow hotel (I made a reservation for there last week),...and I noticed that the aerial view showing the canid furry travelling between the ICH and the Maritim, crossing the street in the middle of the block.

   I've done this; I suspect that everyone attending EuroFURence has done this.  But I wonder - is this actually allowed in most German cities?  Are there any regulations or ordinances which require people crossing the streets to only do so at street corners or designated crosswalks?

   In the United States, this is called "Jay-walking" (I have no idea how that name came about), and in most large cities with lots of auto traffic, it is an infraction, for which you may be tiecketed, and compelled to pay a fine at the courthouse.  It is not commonly enforced, but a police officer has the option at his discretion to do so, if given a reason to; and in locations where there have been a spate of auto-vs-pedestrian accidents (...or in towns facing bugetary problems and needing a boost to the general operating fund...) they will do so, as a safety-enforcement/safety-awareness issue.

Riox:
Jaywalking by itself is not illegal. You might get a ticket if you have to jump over barriers or fences to cross the road or hinder the regular traffic with your actions. I'd suggest a healthy portion of common sense.

Maybe someone who knows the location from personal experience can shed some light on the traffic situation.

PS: Never been fined for that nor do I know anyone who was.

Cheetah:
The official version is:


--- Quote ---§ 25 StVO - Fußgänger

"(3) Fußgänger haben Fahrbahnen unter Beachtung des Fahrzeugverkehrs zügig auf dem kürzesten Weg quer zur Fahrtrichtung zu überschreiten, und zwar, wenn die Verkehrslage es erfordert, nur an Kreuzungen oder Einmündungen, an Lichtzeichenanlagen innerhalb von Markierungen oder auf Fußgängerüberwegen (Zeichen 293). Wird die Fahrbahn an Kreuzungen oder Einmündungen überschritten, so sind dort angebrachte Fußgängerüberwege oder Markierungen an Lichtzeichenanlagen stets zu benutzen."

--- End quote ---

which roughly translates to:


--- Quote ---Traffic Code §25 - Pedestrians

"(3) Pedestrians must cross roadways always in a speedy manner, using the shortest way orthogonally to the driving direction. If the traffic situation requires it, the crossing must be restricted to intersections, T-Junctions, marked crossings at traffic lights or zebra crossings. When crossing at an Intersection or T-Junction, the street markings and traffic lights must be obeyed."

--- End quote ---

Which is both a bit confusing, and rather vague. The interpretation that is usually agreed upon is that it's fine to cross where ever you want, unless you're close to an official crossing or traffic light, or crossing the street would cause a dangerous situation.

Gyroplast:
Pedestrian traffic is regulated by §25 and §26 StVO, and mostly codifies what one would consider common sense. Cross the bloody road in a straight line, don't bumble about, don't run head-first into full traffic. Pedestrians crossing a red light may be fined 5€, or 10€ if their malovelent street-crossing rampage causes any damage to property. I'm not even kidding. See BKatV, Lfd. Nr. 130ff. Of course that's in German only, sorry.

To sum things up: There is no regulation explicitly prohibiting jaywalking, but there is a 5€ fine for crossing a red light as a pedestrian. There is no "acceptable distance of a traffic light" known to me which would require you by law to use it instead of just crossing the road. You may never cross a road if you have to step over/under any chains or other objects blocking access to the road. Those are there for a reason.

On the way from the train station/overflow hotel, there's a large-ish road to cross (the Otto-von-Guericke-Str.), with traffic lights being only a few dozen meters off. It is rather common to cross this road "jaywalking style", and relatively safe to do so. All the cool kids are doing it.  :P An overzealous cop MAY approach you for a lecture, though, if he considers the traffic lights down the road to be "close enough", though. If you want to take this to court, feel free, otherwise just stick to walking the ~30m extra to the nearest crossing, and feel good about yourself doing the right thing. ;)

silverfoxwolf:
To be fair if you go the other way to the station there's the tram tracks and bus areas where things are rather mixed in with the pedestrian areas. I never encountered a problem crossing all that to get some pictures with the police. Except the police dog that took exception to a large furry police dog wandering around.

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