Thanks, Steve. I think we're pretty much in agreement. I don't terribly mind the path-user mini-yield approach, but it does clash with the 'programmer' part of my brain. Pedestrians don't have yield signs at other uncontrolled crosswalks, yet they understand the need to not put themselves in the position of wearing a motor vehicle. I think the point you make about speeds is important and giving fair warning to path users travelling at higher speeds seems like good sense. This is probably most important at high-volume crossings and crossings with poor visibility. I do think the same communication could be accomplished by a 'motor vehicle crossing' type sign. Something like this: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4QWG_Car_Crossing_Credit_Valley_Conservation. You get the same awareness for path users without confusing the issue of right-of-way.
Part of the dissonance with the yield sign for me is in imagining a four-way yield environment. I don't think I've ever seen one and it just seems confusing. The fact that the law does clearly give right-of-way to traffic in a crosswalk seems at odd with using a yield sign to alert path users to cross traffic. I haven't seen anything in the law related to cyclists only getting "pedestrian rights" if they're travelling at ped speeds, but maybe it's called out somewhere. Here's the reg I'm familiar with: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/346.24 It does say that the user of the crosswalk must be "riding... in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by pedestrians." I don't see that defined anywhere, but maybe that's where the ped-speed interpretation comes from. So basically, while I much prefer the yield sign to the stop sign for path users, I think a 'caution' or awareness-raising sign would be more consistent with defined right-of-way and would be as effective to keep path traffic from acting stupidly. But more importantly, I'd like to see more "yield" to crosswalk traffic signs for street users at high-volume crossings. I'd be game in helping on the awareness building campaign you describe as well. Other great locations to do this would be the SWC path at North Shore, W. Washington or Midvale. You can sit through dozens and dozens of motor vehicles before someone yields or, more likely, until there's a gap in the traffic to squeeze through. On Sat, Dec 21, 2013 at 9:37 AM, Steve Arnold <[email protected]>wrote: > On 12/21/2013 8:49 AM, Grant Foster wrote: > >> Has anyone else noticed the new signage on the Cap City path at Jackson? >> There are now mini-Yield signs for path users at the crossing. >> Previously, there was a Stop sign for westbound path traffic and no sign >> for eastbound. I think I saw the mini-Yields at another crossing in this >> stretch (maybe Corry?) >> ... >> > > I've not seen the sign in question, but I approve. I've argued that until > we get the "Idaho stop" law (bicyclists treat stop signs as yield signs) in > WI, we should > 1. Use yield signs wherever appropriate (low volumes and good sight > distances) instead of stop signs, and > 2. Use mini-yield signs instead of mini-stop signs wherever multi-use > paths cross roads, except where there are active signals. > > This policy gives the same effect as the Idaho stop for bicyclists in > those situations, maintaining human-powered momentum, and for case 2, makes > regular motorist behavior (rolling through intersections) legal where it's > safe, saving time, fuel, and pollution. > > This policy has been adopted in Fitchburg, but we only have one yield > intersection for motorists so far. I've argued that when we need stop > signs for new intersections, we buy yield signs and swap them for existing > stop signs at low volume intersections, e.g., within subdivisions, but we > haven't done that yet. > > When the DNR put new signage along the Badger State Trail this fall (e.g., > "trail crossing ahead"), the mini-yield signs at Marketplace Dr were > replaced by mini-stop signs. I went over Fitchburg's reasons for the > policy above with the official who directed the change, and the DNR > converted the mini-stop signs back to mini-yield signs at that location. > (I also argued for mini-yields at Adams Rd, and for keeping stop signs at > the busier crossings at M, Lacy, and PD/McKee, for obvious reasons.) > > <opinion lawyer="no" checkedwithDOT="no"> > To your point about crossing behavior, bicyclists only have pedestrian > rights at crosswalks when operating at ped speeds, but by default, bikes > are operated at substantially higher speeds. So it is correct (but > potentially confusing, I agree) to have yield signs facing *both* the > motorists and the bicyclists where a path crosses a road. This means: > 1. If there is a gap, bikes may proceed with caution, otherwise > bicyclists must stop. > 2. If bicyclists stop, then proceed at pedestrian speeds, motorists must > yield to them. > Bicyclists who blow through such crossings at normal bicycle speeds and > crash with motor vehicles should appropriately be cited for failure to > yield, as bicycles are legal vehicles. > </opinion> > > Now, I agree that the preceding paragraph is way beyond the capability > and/or interest of most motorists and bicyclists to understand or care (You > should not have to be a programmer or lawyer to safely negotiate an > intersection), but the key directive that we all need to be reinforcing is > much simpler: Motorists must yield to crosswalk users! > > My view is that the most effective way to get this message across is to > invite all the local TV stations to the Badger State Trail crossing at > McKee, and some other busy crossings, for some well-publicized path > crossing enforcement stings. Next April would be a good month for that, to > prepare motorists for May, national Bicycle Month. > -- > Steve Arnold, Fitchburg Alder, District 4, Seat 7 > 2530 Targhee Street, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5491 > Telephone +1 608 278 7700 · Facsimile +1 608 278 7701 > [email protected] · http://Arnold.US > Become a supporter: like http://facebook.com/ArnoldforAlder. > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >
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