I commuted on foot in NYC for several years. The culture is generally for pedestrians to cross at intersections with no regard to the signal, but generally not

I commuted on foot in NYC for several years. The culture is generally for pedestrians to cross at intersections with no regard to the signal, but generally not to do so if it means oncoming traffic will have to brake. Right turns at red lights are illegal in NYC, and most of the streets in the city are one-way, so for a pedestrian to cross the street against a signal with no oncoming traffic is reasonably safe.