Oops, let me finish that email. Second paragraph should read:
Also, some WALK lights are timed to only guarantee that a pedestrian can get to the median on one cycle. Yes, that's right, they only give you enough light to get half way across, if there is a "safe refuge." If you are a healthy, relatively brisk walker, you can likely get across the whole intersection on one cycle, but the lights may only be timed to allow slower users - people with mobility issues, children, the elderly, people carrying packages - to get to that "safe refuge." Again, didn't say I agreed with the practice, just that it is a standard in traffic engineering. Robbie Webber On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 11:53 AM, Robbie Webber <[email protected]>wrote: > I didn't say I agreed with the practice, just that that is the rationale. > > Also, some WALK > Robbie Webber > > > > > > > On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 10:46 AM, Troy Thiel <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Robbie, interesting explanation but gotta disagree...check the timing of >> the "walk" at University Bay/Farley and University..or W Wash and >> Fairchild..or quite frankly dozens of others...the walk sign is nowhere near >> long enough for the intersections...again, to require it on pedestian and >> cycling lane crossing or continue the dangerous practice of hoping drivers >> "get it"..well just don't agree...at all. Pedestrians deserve a lighted >> right of way just like cars. >> >> >> >> *From:* Robbie Webber <[email protected]> >> *To:* Troy Thiel <[email protected]> >> *Cc:* [email protected] >> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 19, 2011 9:55 AM >> >> *Subject:* Re: [Bikies] Machinery Row Intersection Feedback >> >> A bit of a thread hijack, but.... >> >> Actually, although you can finish crossing the intersection when the DON'T >> WALK is flashing, pedestrians - and bicyclists using the crosswalk - are >> legally not supposed to start crossing when the light starts flashing. And >> pedestrians aren't supposed to cross at all unless they get a WALK light, if >> one is present. >> >> One advantage to being a bicyclist, instead of a pedestrian, is that we >> can legally cross the intersection using the green cycle, and not need to >> wait until we get a WALK. >> >> Of course, in the case of the John Nolen/Blair/Wilson/Willy/Path >> intersection, bicyclists trying to follow the Cap City Trail from the East >> Isthmus Path to the Lake Monona Path are on the wrong side of the street to >> act like other vehicle operators, so the WALK cycle is much more important. >> And yes, most of us find waiting for all the WALK lights a ridiculous way to >> cross the intersection. >> >> And since we are on the subject of why WALK lights don't automatically >> come on at all intersections, it's because the WALK light causes the red for >> the cross traffic to be longer. That is, it lengthens the crossing time for >> everyone - pedestrians, bicyclists, car drivers - in one direction and >> delays the green for the cross traffic. That is because pedestrians need >> more time to cross than people driving cars. The traffic engineers don't >> want to mess up the timing on the streets by giving this long green all the >> time, so it only comes on when the button is pushed. >> >> Whether that is a good reason to make pedestrians push a button to cross >> is another question, but that is the reason the WALK light doesn't always >> come on. >> >> Robbie Webber >> >> On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 7:17 AM, Troy Thiel <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I know "Pedestrians have the right of way when in crosswalks...even with a >> don't walk sign"...legally... >> >> >> >> >
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