randya

Pedestrian Crosswalk Enforcement Action

Just like every corner is a crosswalk, every lane is a bike lane.

I can easily envision a similar enforcement action for cyclists, with a volunteer or a plain clothes officer on a bike, and nearby traffic cops waiting to write tickets for motorists who violate the cyclist's right of way or commit other infractions like passing too close, etc.

The Police Bureau in Portland promised to do this over ten years ago, but has never followed through on that promise. Yet the pedestrian crosswalk enforcement actions have been happening all over the city for several years now, several times a year, minimum.

genec

The problem is the same either way... Motorists not paying attention!

gcottay

Maybe it's just vocabulary, but I do not consider every lane a bike lane. In my area, motor vehicles have every right to use most lanes but are legally barred from bike lanes.

Roody

The question isn't what lane can cars use. It's what lanes can bikes use? Do you believe that bikes are limited to the bike lane?

tadawdy

in Illinois, bikes are legally restricted to bike lanes where they exist.

randya

I'm thinking that they should be doing these motorist stings on streets that don't have bike lanes on them.

noisebeam

Sure, why not.

Where relative to curb should the 'decoy cyclist' ride in an 11ft lane? 16ft?

How is the motorist response observed and responded to if required?

randya

In the part of the city where I live the lanes would be almost all be in the 9.5 to 12 foot width range, and too narrow for a cyclist and motorist to be operating side by side in.

As far as detailed logistics and measurement of compliance, I don't really think it would be that hard to come up with a standard operating procedure and compliance metrics.

noisebeam

So if a 9-12' lane then the 'decoy cyclist' would be in center of lane?

I agree about logistics, should be figuroutable, was not challenging you, but looking for (your) ideas.

Does the 'decoy bicycle' have measurement and/or recording equipment (and if so how is the offender pulled over, or will this be like photo radar with a ticket in the mail)? Or is there a follow vehicle to check (and if so how does this vehicle not interfere) What else?

ItsJustMe

Unless I'm mistaken, that's UNLESS the bike lane is unsuitable for bicycle traffic, like if it contains hazards like broken glass or parked cars.

sggoodri

As a pedestrian in North Carolina, I see drivers violate my right of way every few intersection crossings, especially if I act assertively.

As a cyclist in the same state, it takes many hours of cycling before I see a driver commit a violation of my right of way in a manner that is remotely concerning. Typically it is nothing more than a misjudgement, pulling out too closely where I have to brake a bit. Not very efficient use of time if my objective is to write tickets. I expect it would happen more often if I didn't take the lane at intersections and narrow lanes, but I don't think I would want to ride that way as bait.

I just wish the bike cops here would ride on the roadways instead of the sidewalks. Unfortunately, their objectives are different from those of transportation cyclists - they are focused on accessing pedestrian areas quickly. The IPMBA training course includes vehicular cycling, which would help, but our local bike cops aren't with IPMBA. Anybody know a local department that is and has written tickets based on how motorists treated them?

bkrownd

The only time I've ever been hit in a crosswalk it was by a bicycle.

AndrewP

I am in full support of automatic photo speed and red light traps. This can be used as a voluntary tax scheme to pay for a US health care program.

noisebeam

I've been observing the interaction of pedestrians and vehicles at intersections for the past few months. (something to do from bicycle when waiting)

It is truly amazing what is now the normal when the thru traffic light and the parallel pedestrian x-walk light turn green/white at the same time (a common design). Pedestrians whether solo or in group who are waiting to cross all wait until all waiting right turning vehicles have turned, only then do they proceed. I see this nearly every time. It seems that pedestrians have been bullied and prioritize their safety to no longer even try.

The few times I am a pedestrian in the same situation I really need to be super aggressive to walk when there are right turners waiting. Strong eye contact and making a forceful physical move to step out, even then about half of motorists will turn anyway. Pretty sad state of affairs.

bkrownd

It's called courtesy. When a pedestrian I always try to wait to cross during gaps in traffic and let traffic congestion clear whenever possible. It's easy to wait as a pedestrian, and keeps traffic flowing. I have no interest in being an "agressive" pedestrian.

noisebeam

It might be courtesy if there are many peds and one or two drivers waiting to turn, but typically there are one or two peds and a line of 3-10 vehicles waiting to turn, then as the line of turning vehicles is near cleared, a few more vehicles get added to the line. So the peds who wait inevitiably end up getting a gap to cross just about as the walk signal turns to flashing red and finish the last few feet with the signal solid red and x-traffic getting a green.

Also keep in mind that drivers have already been turning on red before they got a green, so when the light turns green and the peds also get the cross signal, that means it is time for the motorist to to let the peds cross.

randya

I always make the right-turning traffic wait when I'm walking.

noisebeam

^^^^ you are so selfish. you should wait for them, then run as fast as you can to get across before you get hit by cross traffic.

fetad

I don't think it's courtesy, especially considering the lopsided nature of the interaction. It's usually the pedestrian giving up their ROW. Because people are people regardless of their mode of transportation, I would think what makes them different (3000 lbs metal vs 150 lb flesh) explains the discrepancy in behavior.

The idea of defensive driving has spilled over to other activities such as walking and cycling. It probably explains why people tend to give up their ROW to bigger vehicles regardless of laws and signage. Sit these same people in their cars about to turn right and I doubt they respect the ped's ROW and courteously let them cross the street.

Here in FL it's freakin hot right now. Standing on the side of the road when its 95 degrees outside is awful. I'd sure as hell rather be in my car with the A/C blasting. Courtesy?

noisebeam

I've seen two people get stuck in the median (not even a raised one, just standing on the double yellow) after being more than half way across then darting back as some lanes of cross traffic start to proceed because they waited for right turners and they didn't have time to finish crossing. Cross traffic doesn't give a crap as they think the pedestrian was crossing illegally, when they just didn't have time after that initial 15sec wait for right turners.

If one thinks they have it bad cycling (i don't) try walking in a sprawl city.

fetad

I agree, walking is definitely being at the bottom of the food chain. For every reason I stopped riding on the sidewalk, the ped goes through everyday...except they can't do anything about it.

Kevrob

When you are in pedestrian mode, you have to have the right attitude.



A combination of my schedule and poor weather yesterday meant that I didn't take my bike. As a result, I had to make a 6-mile walk back home, mostly uphill.

I really appreciated my bike this morning.

Kevin