Intersection of Doom Upgrades…

[Rootchopper]

Saw a Cabi northbound of Lynn nearly get right hooked by a BMW turning east on I-66 ramp. Absolutely the driver’s fault. Learned a few minutes ago that a cyclist was struck in front of my office building on Lynn Street. Taken away by ambulance. No idea who he/she was or condition.

[americancyclo]

@Steve O 97565 wrote:

I took a video of the new traffic signal timing at the intersection. This was middle of the day, not rush hour. Comments welcome.

So the LPI is four seconds? That seems like just enough time for a ped or a cyclist to get in to the middle of the crosswalk to be mowed down by a motorist. According to streetfilms the usual is 3-5 seconds, but I think we could use a bit longer here, particularly during rush hours.

[wheelswings]

It’s helpful to see the video. I appreciate also Dana’s signal calculations from earlier this month. Normally I’m so focused on making it through the intersection alive that I don’t notice these sorts of details. Often I find the most difficult crossing is when I’m coming from Key Bridge and taking the sharp right turn, heading west on Custis. In particular, if the Walk signal starts just as I’m pulling up, when I’m by the curb-cut, I ought to be happy ‘cause it’s my turn. But instead I find it near impossible to get my bike positioned on the tiny corner launch-pad (even when it’s not occupied) before the count-down clock begins. And the moment the count starts, the cars plow around that corner even though they see me trying to cross. Sometimes the only option is to wait until there are only, say, five seconds left — and the bulk of the cars have gone through – but even then the remaining strays are often in a hurry. Is it better to use the curb cut and dive into the road as soon as possible (without making it to the narrow crosswalk) and just hope that the drivers see me before they accelerate? When I launch at the corner often it has a suicidal feel.

[Steve O]

@americancyclo 97621 wrote:

So the LPI is four seconds? That seems like just enough time for a ped or a cyclist to get in to the middle of the crosswalk to be mowed down by a motorist. According to streetfilms the usual is 3-5 seconds, but I think we could use a bit longer here, particularly during rush hours.

The LPI is actually counterproductive if the cars can turn right on red. They are looking to their left for traffic to stop on Lynn St.–not paying attention to trail traffic. When it does stop, they perceive it as their opportunity to go. Motorists may or may not notice the walk signal. If they don’t, then their assumption would be that the light is “red” for peds and bikes, and they are free to proceed. IMHO the LPI actually makes it somewhat more dangerous than without it.

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The walk signal itself is illuminated for only 5 seconds out of the 90 second total light cycle. Under certain interpretations of the law, that is the only legal time one may enter the crosswalk. There was a discussion about this at the Lynn/Lee meeting and the October ABAC meeting. During rush hours there are probably a number of times in which the queue of peds and bikes takes longer than five seconds just to get into the street.

[mstone]

@Steve O 97667 wrote:

The walk signal itself is illuminated for only 5 seconds out of the 90 second total light cycle. Under certain interpretations of the law, that is the only legal time one may enter the crosswalk. There was a discussion about this at the Lynn/Lee meeting and the October ABAC meeting. During rush hours there are probably a number of times in which the queue of peds and bikes takes longer than five seconds just to get into the street.

Yup, that is true at many busy bicycle crossings in the area. It helps highlight how idiotic the current law is, but there seems to be no appetite for rationalizing it. There also doesn’t seem to be any real push to enforce the countdown don’t walk, so I guess as long as everyone just winks and ignores the stupidity we’re all good.

[baiskeli]

@Steve O 97667 wrote:

The walk signal itself is illuminated for only 5 seconds out of the 90 second total light cycle. Under certain interpretations of the law, that is the only legal time one may enter the crosswalk. There was a discussion about this at the Lynn/Lee meeting and the October ABAC meeting. During rush hours there are probably a number of times in which the queue of peds and bikes takes longer than five seconds just to get into the street.

While I find it hilarious that anyone could interpret it any other way, I’ll make a larger point about that – at this intersection, it’s very wise for a cyclist or pedestrian to choose not to enter the intersection after that 5 second interval. I always stop there when I see a red “don’t walk,” even if I have plenty of time to get through on the countdown. It’s helped me train myself to slow down and take it easy. I avoid conflict with a desperate, distracted, frustrated motorist. I can wait another 85 seconds. They aren’t worth the risk. I just sit and watch everyone else rushing to get through, and I watch the near-misses.

[Steve O]

@baiskeli 97677 wrote:

While I find it hilarious that anyone could interpret it any other way, I’ll make a larger point about that – at this intersection, it’s very wise for a cyclist or pedestrian to choose not to enter the intersection after that 5 second interval. I always stop there when I see a red “don’t walk,” even if I have plenty of time to get through on the countdown. It’s helped me train myself to slow down and take it easy. I avoid conflict with a desperate, distracted, frustrated motorist. I can wait another 85 seconds. They aren’t worth the risk. I just sit and watch everyone else rushing to get through, and I watch the near-misses.

Just up the hill on the Custis are two intersections with bike signals. Those signals remain green even after the walk signal has changed to flashing hand. A cyclist coming down the hill may rightly find it ambiguous that passing through two previous intersections on the flashing hand is perfectly fine, but not at Lynn and Lee–only because there doesn’t happen to be a separate bike signal there.

[baiskeli]

@Steve O 97685 wrote:

Just up the hill on the Custis are two intersections with bike signals. Those signals remain green even after the walk signal has changed to flashing hand. A cyclist coming down the hill may rightly find it ambiguous that passing through two previous intersections on the flashing hand is perfectly fine, but not at Lynn and Lee–only because there doesn’t happen to be a separate bike signal there.

Exactly – which is why I think it makes sense to have a separate bike signal at Lynn and Lee too.

[Kolohe]

People with WABA t-shirts at the intersection today, thanking people for riding. Also a police officer, who while I was there, pulled over a car that went straight in the leftmost turn lane coming down Lynn.

[rcannon100]

@Kolohe 98028 wrote:

People with WABA t-shirts at the intersection today.

Our Patron saint Dirt (and some other dude in the white shirt)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6916[/ATTACH]

I received a very nice email from ACPD about Doom. It was a very positive interaction. I took the opportunity to share some frustrations that cyclists have with that intersection (this was not the first time police cars have taken to parking along the side walk). It was very positive and the unfortunate incident from a few weeks ago may have helped push the needle in the right direction. I also invited the officer to share ACPD views here on the forum.

And as always, thank you to Dirt and WABA for being part of the solution.

I would encourage you to follow the slogan written on the side of the buses “IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.” We really can never let up. Reaching out to government officials again and again, from ABAC, from Blogs, from WABA, from individuals – it pays off. Keep it up.

[ShawnoftheDread]

That’s Brian from Freshbikes with St. Dirt.

[bobco85]

Since Halloween is almost here, let me scare everyone on the forum with the dangerous intersection in the Netherlands (found out about this on BikeSnobNYC):

[video=youtube_share;TAGSmudr3js]http://youtu.be/TAGSmudr3js[/video]

The horror!

I’d like to compare this with Steve O’s video of the Intersection of Doom and take a poll of which intersection seems more dangerous.

[KLizotte]

^^Sadly, this is pretty much how we would design a NEW intersection in the US if bike infrastructure were included.

[VikingMariner]

The degree of civility by both motorists and cyclists needs to be replicated in the States. That is what I miss most able cycling and driving in Europe. Of course there is also the Dutch attitude of live and let live, which I think may never be replicated in Washington, DC. In the DC metro area, it seems everyone has an opinion about how everyone else should conduct their lives, which I would be okay with if they would also pay my bills before telling me how to live my life as a sign of good faith.

[GB]

If motorized bikes / scooters / mopeds in the bike lane cause you distress do not watch that video.

[Author]

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