Mike Barrett wrote: <Oh good, that means I can now legally go through the perpetual red at Willy & Jenifer. I've timed it, and it generally takes 120 seconds to go to green. WoooHoooo!> Sorry Mike, but you are mis-interpreting this law. You can only go through a red traffic signal if 1) you have been waiting at least 45 seconds, AND 2) you have to be pretty sure you have not been detected by the signal system The second part of this is critical to understand. Motorcyclists (who were the proponents of this law) and bicyclists cannot just go on any red after waiting 45 seconds. If there is car in front of you, next to you, behind you, or across the street from you also waiting for the signal to change, there has been detection and you have to wait for the green before going. If there is a push button for bicycle detection, such as at Jenifer and Williamson, you have to push the button and wait for the green. Here is the text of law again. Please read it and understand it's nuances. 346.37(1) 4. Notwithstanding subd. 1., a motorcycle, moped, motor bicycle, or bicycle facing a red signal at an intersection may, after stopping as required under subd. 1. for not less than 45 seconds, proceed cautiously through the intersection before the signal turns green IF NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE PRESENT AT THE INTERSECTION TO ACTUATE THE SIGNAL AND THE OPERATOR OF THE MOTORCYCLE, MOPED, MOTOR BICYCLE, OR BICYCLE REASONABLY BELIEVES THE SIGNAL IS VEHICLE ACTUATED. [emphasis added] The operator of a motorcycle, moped, motor bicycle, or bicycle proceeding through a red signal under this subdivision shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicular traffic, pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device proceeding through a green signal at the intersection or lawfully within a crosswalk or using the intersection. This subdivision does not affect any authorization for a bicyclist under subd. 2. Finally, please understand that it is the city of Madison's intention that bicyclist's be detected at all traffic signals. If you find a location where you do not think you are being detected and the signal is not changing for you, please contact me so we can check it and fix it. Yes, the wait can be up to 120 seconds, for motorists as well as for bicyclists, depending upon the location and when in the cycle there was detection. Arthur Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 100 PO Box 2986 Madison, WI 53701-2986 608/266-6225
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