Arthur,
> 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 I'm not so sure point #2 is the correct _legal_ interpretation (though your interpretation does sound like what the law should convey if it were properly written). The conditions in the law as written: "[...] after stopping as required under subd. 1. for not less than 45 seconds, proceed [...] 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." As I read the law, the bicyclist needs to believe that the signal is vehicle actuated and there be no other vehicles present to actuate the signal. I see nothing in the law that requires the bicyclist to know whether the light has been activated by the bicycle they are riding, or to evaluate the timing history of the light. Is there something I have missed? Perhaps the law needs some tweaking. The law seems to be poorly crafted to me. There are a lot of common sense items that aren't covered by the language. As an example let's consider: Two bicyclists, riding abreast, reach an intersection controlled by an actuated signal. The signal fails to detect the bicyclists, and they dutifully wait out their time. Can they legally go? NO! Each bicyclist sees another vehicle (the other bicycle) at the intersection - thus the "IF NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE PRESENT AT THE INTERSECTION TO ACTUATE THE SIGNAL" condition is not met. the "TO ACTUATE THE SIGNAL" part is not clear enough for my liking. What is important is if they _HAVE_ actuated the signal, not just their presence. And in a further twist, let's suppose there is a motor vehicle in back of the bicyclists, but the presence of the bicyclists physically prevents the motorist from actuating the signal. Now, everyone is stuck. It seems reasonable that the bicyclists should be allowed to proceed through the intersection (under the other conditions of the law) and allow the motor-vehicle to trip the light. Perhaps language more like: "IF NO MOTOR-VEHICLES AT THE INTERSECTION HAVE ACTUATED THE SIGNAL..." One more comment on interpretation: > 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 Which statute covers this? _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
