Deskripsyon
When crossing on foot at Belmont/Sheridan from the NE corner to the NW, pedestrians don't get a crossing signal until after cars have been given a green light for a few seconds, which creates a steady flow of cars turning right before you can enter the crosswalk. It's like the opposite of the "leading pedestrian interval" that have improved other intersections nearby. Giving cars a leading green light makes it dangerous or impossible to cross the street.
2 Komentos
rewallac (Rehistradong User)
For clarification, the issue resolves around the east-west pedestrian walk phase. The westbound left turning vehicles are provided a leaving left phase, at which time the east-west pedestrians on the south leg are prevented from walking. The issue is that also during this phase, the east-west pedestrians on the north leg are prevented from walking. Most pedestrians see that the light is green even though there is a do not walk symbol, and begin to cross. Eastbound vehicles turning right see that they have a green light and the pedestrians have a do not walk, so they begin to turn right, creating a very dangerous conflict. It is possible that the intersection was designed to prevent the the pedestrians from crossing to allow additional right turning vehicles, in which case a green right arrow needs to be provided to avoid dangerous conflicts, especially with the high number of buses that turn right at the intersection. If this was not the intent of the timing, then the pedestrians need to be provided a walk symbol during this phase to prevent confusion.
NOTE: I noticed some automated traffic counters installed at Belmont/Sheridan, and also at Belmont/Lake Shore Drive, as well as two vehicle parked at the triangle parcel to manual count the intersections.
crandell (Rehistradong User)
I'd clarify, my issue is that once eastbound vehicles start turning right, they do not stop for pedestrians even when the pedestrians get a walk signal. I wait for the walk signal when I cross east-west on the north side, which means there will be a steady flow of turning vehicles by the time I get my signal and they all refuse to abide by the law and yield to pedestrians trying to cross.
A green right arrow could potentially make this problem even worse, unless it's a lagging green arrow that appears only after pedestrians have been given a chance to cross. I'd suggest a better solution would be to reverse the timing issue and give people walking a leading pedestrian interval here so they can claim their right of way in the crosswalk before cars get a green.