I believe it would be.
Normally at a four way intersection when the walk signal commands to go the
majority of the traffic is going straight providing a wall of traffic.
The blind pedestrian still must be aware of right turners immediately, and
left turners once to the middle of the road especially in multy lane
intersections.
The technique is called lane by lane.
In a T intersection the traffic with the green light is always turning left
creating the need of engagement between pedestrian and driver.
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf ;
Of John Brooking
Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2019 9:56 AM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Time is of the Essence
Carson, I'm interested in your comment about walk signals being designed for 4
way intersections. It jibes with comments I've made in the past about the
simultaneous walk signal and green arrow for traffic exiting Hannaford leading
naturally to more conflicts than a typical 4-way intersection would have. But
one general solution, the all-stop pedestrian walk phase, has the disadvantage
that you taught us about for blind pedestrians, of not hearing traffic moving
to help keep you on course.
It seems to me that one solution would be a pedestrian walk signal that
continues to make a sound the entire time that the walk phase is on, as well as
while counting down. I'm sure such things must exist. Would that be a good
solution for blind pedestrians at an all-stop pedestrian signal?
On Fri, Jun 7, 2019 at 6:38 PM Carson Wood <cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:cwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
The left turners need to yield to pedestrians at a T intersection.
Making a crossing without a pedestrian signal requires hearing the left
turners start driving which signifies the green light. At the center of the
road the blind traveler looks towards the right to hopefully engage the driver
to yield.
This is why I’ve said in the past that the walk signals are designed for 4
way intersections.
If there is a time set for all to stop, that time must be realistic for a
crossing without needing to run.
A blind friend called the city years ago about this too quick time allotted
to cross.
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ;<mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ] On
Behalf Of Dennis Marrotte
Sent: Friday, June 07, 2019 6:23 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [wsmac] Time is of the Essence
A Beautiful Friday.
I just drove into Hannaford's from WCD, waiting for the Left Turn Green Arrow
Westbound.
A Tall Teenage Boy walking a Bicycle, activated the Pedestrian Crosswalk
Pushbutton to walk across from The Hannaford's Side to the opposite Sidewalk.
Is there 15 Seconds ? To walk Across when the illuminated White Walking Figure
comes up ?
He was across the East bound Lanes which were Stopped as well as the two
Westbound Lanes, including the Left Turn Lane for entering Hannaford's
Driveway. He stopped at the Median Island Cut. Just as the 2 Exiting Left Turn
Lanes from Hannaford's got a Green Light . About 6 - 7 Vehicles started out
both Left Turn Lanes. Some drivers hesitated but no one stopped. By the time
all the Left Turn Exiting Traffic had passed, he jogged across with his Bicycle
to the far side Sidewalk, just as Westbound WCD thru Traffic got a Green Light.
The Difference is how many Vehicles are driving out from Hannaford's in the -2
Exiting Left Turn Lanes, while he was waiting on the Median Island Cut, for the
Turning Traffic to pass, then scoot across before the Westbound WCD Traffic
gets the Green Light.
Have any DOT Engineers come down here for a couple Days to observe this?
Dennis
