I can understand why Traffic Engineering doesn't want to delay
traffic when no pedestrians are present. The problem with the
existing system is that it is absolutely uncompromising of drivers'
convenience at the expense of pedestrians'. If they accept that
pedestrians DO have a right to some consideration when they ARE
present, the solution is easy. I does, however, require a small
compromise to accommodate pedestrians. Here's how the walk buttons
should work:
1. When button is pressed during red light, walk light comes on next
green cycle long enough for pedestrian to cross (extended green if
necessary).
2. When button is pressed during green light, walk light IMMEDIATELY
comes on, and stays on long enough for pedestrian to cross.
(Possibly extending green light.)
3. For controlled light, when no vehicles have tripped the light,
pressing the walk button during red light immediately starts the
green cycle (amber first, of course), and walk light comes on with
green. (Note that except for the walk light, this is exactly what
happens when a car, sometimes even a bike, trips the light when it
has been red for a long time.)
4. At intersections with lots of pedestrian traffic (like most
around the UW campus), walk lights should come with every green cycle.
Objections will no doubt arise, but I expect all will simply be
rationalizations to avoid causing the slightest inconvenience to
drivers for the sake of pedestrians. What Traffic Engineering must
be made to understand is the pedestrians and bicyclists ARE traffic.
Scott Ellington
Madison, Wisconsin
USA
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