On Feb 8, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Troy Thiel wrote:
Not sure if it can get on the Ped Bike Committee agenda, but it seems to me that the arguments against not having automatic walk cycles are sufficient enough to review the policy.
I think Troy means by "automatic walk cycle" that the walk light comes on every cycle, whether or not a pedestrian pushes the button. The other kind automatically penalizes pedestrians for not arriving quite in time to push the button. The purpose of that button should be to cause the traffic light to change in a timely manner for pedestrians when it would not otherwise (usually at a light controlled by vehicle sensors). Every pedestrian has surely had the experience of arriving when the traffic light just after it has turned green, but the WALK light is not on. Legally, the pedestrian is supposed to push the button and wait for the next cycle.
When the traffic light turns green anyway, what possible purpose can there be for the walk light NOT to come on, except to save turning motorists the unspeakable inconvenience of having to wait for a pedestrian who got to the button a little too late?
Imagine the furor if it were the other way around: Walk light comes on every cycle, but green light for vehicles only on the cycle AFTER a vehicle arrives at the sensor. Yet that would actually make SENSE from the standpoint of pedestrian safety. One hardly ever hears of a motorist killed by a turning pedestrian.
Scott Ellington Madison, Wisconsin USA _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
