To add to Dan's post, The HAWK, as it was known when Tucson
developed/experimented with this, is now included in the MUTCD (Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices) but is now called a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon.
There have been other similar signals used experimentally in other cities
called half signals because they only control traffic on one of the streets,
not both of them. These have always fallen outside of the MUTCD norms and
caused a lot of concern within the profession, so it is great to see a new tool
adopted formally. The one we are installing is different from the norm in that
it will include a traffic signal for bicyclists (the red, yellow, and green
signals will be bicycle icons). We had to apply to the Federal Highway
Administration for special permission to experiment with the bicycle signal.
By applying for experimental status we are helping with the process of bicycle
signals being formally approved and adopted into a future update of the MUTCD.
The way it will work at Mifflin / Blair is basically as follows.
Blair Street traffic faces the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon.
The beacon has three signal faces, two reds side-by-side at the top with a
yellow centered below these.
Mifflin Street traffic has three different traffic controls, one for each mode
of traffic
Motorists will have to obey the existing stop sign.
Pedestrians will have a pedestrian signal activated by a push button
Bicyclists will have the new, experimental bicycle signal, activated by a
push button
The bicycle signal will rest (general operation as you approach the
intersection) on flashing red. Flashing red is equivalent to a stop sign,
which is the existing situation. There will be a push button next to the curb
for bicyclists to be able to activate the bicycle signal and the pedestrian
hybrid beacon to stop Blair Street traffic. If Blair Street traffic is light,
the bicyclist can simply stop for the flashing red and then go when clear. No
need to push the button and call the green bike / ped hybrid beacon cycle. If
Blair Street traffic is heavy, the bicyclist can push the button, wait for the
bicycle signal to turn green, which will also stop the traffic on Blair Street
with the double solid red, make sure it is clear then go.
Pedestrians will have a similar situation to bicyclists. The ped signal will
be rest in blank (dark) mode so if Blair Street traffic is light, the ped can
continue across. If Blair Street traffic is heavier, the ped can push the
button to activate the ped signals and the ped hybrid beacon to stop Blair
Street traffic.
The way the ped hybrid looks to Blair Street traffic is as follows
Rests in dark/blank mode.
When a bicyclist or pedestrian wanting the cross Blair pushes their button, the
PHB will first start flashing yellow, giving a clearance interval to Blair
Street traffic. At the same time the Bike signal will go to solid red and the
ped DON'T WALK signal will come on.
Next the PHB will display both reds in solid/constant mode. At the same time
the bike signal will turn green and the Walk signal will come on for peds.
AS the cycle is ending the PHB goes to flashing red, alternating the two reds,
the bike signal goes through a typical green to yellow to red cycle and back to
rest on flashing red, and the ped signal goes through a typical WALK to
flashing DON'T WALK to solid DON'T WALK and back to rest in blank/dark mode.
Right now the bike push buttons say push button for walk, but we are working to
change that to indicate that the push button is for activating the bicycle
signal.
Here is a video of a similar set up in Portland. Ours will be a bit different,
but this should help understand the basic functionality for those who are more
visual learners / thinkers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHihP2t5mdQ about 3 minutes
Arthur
Arthur Ross, Pedestrian-Bicycle Coordinator
City of Madison Traffic Engineering Division
215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Suite 100
PO Box 2986
Madison, WI 53701-2986
608/266-6225
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dan Ross
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 11:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Bikies] New signal at Blair and E Mifflin
Yes, that is the new "HAWK" beacon. It is a user-activated (via button?) to
allow bikes (and maybe peds?) to cross Blair. More info on HAWK beacons,
although it may not be exactly the same for the one installed here:
http://john-s-allen.com/blog/?p=16
A full traffic signal is supposed to go in at E Mifflin and Webster, timed with
the outer loop and coordinating with the to-be-installed (painted) counter flow
lane for bikes in the 100 block of E Mifflin.
Dan
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:58:16 -0600
From: David Waugh <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [Bikies] new bike coordinator
Message-ID: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
[...]
Does anyone know if the new stop lights going in at the intersection of
Blair and East Mifflin have anything to do with Mifflin being designated
a bike blvd?
David Waugh
1213 East Mifflin
-
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