vol

When you are about to cross a street, do you watch for the traffic light turning yellow=>red, or the pedestrian's light count-down ...6,5,4,3,2,1,0? I assume the cyclist is supposed to follow the traffic light as vehicles do, but since the count-down of the Walk/Don't Walk signal is more useful (and more close to the eye-level), I tend to follow the light for pedestrians, which also often allows few more seconds. Does this count as violation of law?

Addendum: attaching picture for clarification.

Jaywalk3r

Both.

Every city in which I've lived that used countdown pedestrian signals, the pedestrian signals countdown to zero, at which the traffic signal turns yellow, so the pedestrian signal tells me how much longer the green light will last. However, if nothing has triggered the need for a green light on the cross street, the traffic signal will remain green, while the pedestrian signal goes to "Don't Walk" mode.

I use the information to help me evaluate my best approach to the intersection. I might want to increase my speed so that I can catch the tail-end of a green light, or I might want to reduce my speed so that, after the light turns red, the cars waiting at the cross street have time to proceed through the intersection before I get there, so that I might arrive at, and proceed through, an empty intersection.

Chris516

The traffic signal. A pedestrian can't kill a cyclist.

Mark Stone

Both, but 99% traffic light. It depends on the intersection.

genec

Both... and before I move or continue moving, I evaluate the actual traffic. The lights are merely a signal... what traffic is actually doing is far far more important... is someone running a light? That is the stuff that is important.

mconlonx

Traffic light, unless ped light is more to my advantage and I can do an intersection without impeding a ped.

dpeters11

I look at both as well, to see if I can modulate my speed enough so that when I get to the intersection I don't have to stop, if there aren't too many cars waiting.

dynodonn 

Traffic light, I only look at the ped light on the cross street side as an indication on when the traffic light in my direction of travel is about to change, or as an indication that I tripped the signal light switch.

JoeyBike

I don't look at either of those two pieces of traffic furniture, unless the pole holding them up is leaning and might fall on me. I will likely never get run over by a lamp pole. I look for moving objects first, and position myself on the road so that soon-to-be moving objects are held at a safe distance.

It is easy to avoid getting run over by the currently moving objects. Just stay out of their way. It takes a higher lever of skill, concentration, and understanding to avoid objects that are stationary but can start moving at any moment for any reason inside or outside of the law. Looking at the lights MIGHT work if everyone else obeyed them without fail. But people get distracted and make mistakes. Or they are intoxicated or drugged.

SO...stop looking at the pretty lights and start paying attention to the things that might actually kill you. Like right-on-red cars and J-walking peds. STAY AWAY FROM THE CURB unless you are stopped. Never, ever put yourself ONE FOOTSTEP from disaster. Peds standing on the curb edge should be given at least five steps cushion. Crossing cars stopped at right-on-red signals should be given a lane and a half cushion. Do not count on ANYONE seeing you.

If you do these things without fail, only a plane crash or meteorite strike can kill you. Everything at ground level will be accounted for.

ItsJustMe

I use the ped light as an indicator of when I should start getting ready, but it's not safe to use in general as I'm not a pedestrian.

Also people run yellow->red lights. Just a few days ago I started to move exactly when the light turned green because I was already clipped in and barely rolling at zero on the ped signal, and had to stop short because a cross traffic car ran the red.

Digital_Cowboy

Vol,

Where is the cyclist (I presume you are talking about cyclists in this case) operating? On the road with traffic or on the sidewalk with pedestrians?

If one is on the road with traffic one is suppose to follow the traffic light NOT the pedestrian light. That being said the pedestrian light is good for giving one a rough estimate as to when the traffic light is also going to change. I say rough estimate as I have noticed that not all traffic lights turn red at the same time that the pedestrian light does.

Now if one is operating on the sidewalk, provided that it is legal where one lives, and here in Fl unless otherwise posted by local ordinance it is legal to operate on the sidewalk. If one is operating on the sidewalk one takes on the same rights and responsibilities as a pedestrian and that means that the pedestrian light applies.

It probably does count as a violation of the law if you are going through the intersection when the traffic light is red. If on the other had the traffic light is green when the pedestrian light reaches zero/turns red no it should not be a violation of the law.

spivonious

I only have one intersection where the ped signal has a countdown. I normally watch the cross-traffic light and get prepped to go when it turns yellow. I make sure cross-traffic is stopping before I start to go, same as I do in my car. There are lots of people who try to beat the red and end up running it.

vol

I mean on the road. See picture. In particular, the question pertains when the traffic light is just about to turn red or has just turned red, but pedestrian's signal is not 0 yet--in some cases there are still plenty time, the count-down may be at "10+". (Otherwise, if the traffic light is still yellow, I think there is no conflict between the two.)

RaleighSport

Both unless I know the particular intersections light timing intimately.

JoeyBike

Legally, you are not supposed to ENTER an intersection on a yellow light much less a red light. If you want to obey the law to the letter, don't look at the pedestrian signal unless you are a pedestrian moving from sidewalk to sidewalk across the street. On your bicycle, wait for your green light and proceed to stay within the law.

If, however, you don't care about the law...you should study the traffic flow at that intersection several times while obeying the law. Memorize how everything works at every time of day you might cross each intersection (lights often change from off peak hours to slow times). Then your question can be answered by YOU and you alone what is safe and what is risky. Every intersection, every day, every minute is different. You have to assess the situation EVERY time even if you memorize the signal sequences and timings. In most cases it is better to watch traffic flow and pedestrian activity (not the lights) before deciding what is a safe course for you at THAT moment.

I do not think your exact question in the OP can be answered by anyone here, other than the legal part which is straightforward.

BobbyG

+1

joeyduck

I look at both and use them to modulate my speed so I do not have to stop in either my car or my bike.

I think @JoeyBike takes some risks I might not otherwise but all in all I think his riding is fine; he is using his skills and knowledge of traffic to his advantage and does not put people at significantly increased risk. After watching some of his riding through red lights I watched the intersections I typically wait at and there is no way for me to weave through like he does. The city here has no light timing and all traffic gets bunched and then 4-6 lanes total are full of cars, buses, trucks and turning cars and no safe way to get through. I am not in the downtown core where it may be better with one way streets.

But I certainly watch the lights and cross traffic before jumping a red.

I-Like-To-Bike

Both or neither; genec is correct, actual traffic situation is the best answer.

JoeyBike

If you are not looking at the cross traffic when crossing on a GREEN light, then you are taking more risks than I do.

spare_wheel

agreed. i see multiple cars blow a new green on virtually every commute.

joeyduck

That goes without saying.

But to clarify I always ensure there is no cross traffic.

LGHT

Exactly what I do. I was traveling north and watched 2 cyclist sitting at a red traveling south on the other side of the street waiting for it to turn green. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a HUGE dump truck doing what had to be 50mph in a 40mph zone and making no attempt to stop. He ran the red by at least 3 seconds and I slammed on my break to stop my forward progress when I noticed him. The bikers instead of just waiting for the green made a life saving look to the left and I noticed the truck also. The closest rider held back and put his hand out to stop the other as he yelled to prevent him from going forward. I think there was about 5' between the truck and the riders when they stopped. Had they been watching either signal and proceeded forward there is no way they would have survived. I will never forget that moment and now I always look for traffic even if the light is green.

genec

Yup, regardless of the signal, it is knowing what the traffic is doing that is the key to staying alive... keeping that head on a swivel. And unlike those steel cages out there... we don't have "forgiving crumple zones" or airbags.

Digital_Cowboy

Vol,

Thank you for the clarification. I stand by what I’ve said. I use the crosswalk countdown counter only as a rough estimate of when the traffic light is going to change.

caloso

I look at everything, including shadows and reflections in shop windows, if possible.