Pedestrian Problem

Is it just me or are the pedestrians in DC just awful? I see it all the time, when I'm cycling, in a car, even walking; pedestrians will constantly start walking as the light in their favor turns to yellow and red. The WORST part is, it seems that they wait until it turns to go. Is this a DC phenomenon? Are there too many people used to the burbs in this starter city that they think the 1.5 seconds when the traffic lights in both directions are red is the only time to cross?

Another issue I seem to find is that people will look right at me and step off the curb to cross the street or hail a cab into my lane of travel, even when the traffic light is in my favor.

I think that this behavior is more likely to be found in small/starter cities like DC. In any place that is less of an overgrown burb these people would get themselves killed trying to Frogger across the streets. Not only that but the lack of common courtesy/respect is frustrating.