Question about Leading Pedestrian Intervals

[lordofthemark]

Swerving into the crosswalk is not necessarily a good idea. Especially where there are lots of pedestrians using said crosswalk.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Yes I ran the red, in response to which the cop said I could if I used the crosswalk (for the record: that’s ridiculous from both legal and safety reasons). Based on that, and other experiences showing a general unfamiliarity with the code, I wouldn’t be surprised if a cyclist using the LPI to cross got a warning or ticket for not swinging over and literally using the crosswalk. The first person to bring up the Barnes Dance at 7th & H will be invited to leave this discussion permanently.

[ShawnoftheDread]

That explanation makes the cop’s remark even stupider than I originally thought it to be.

[Steve O]

@Brendan von Buckingham 113818 wrote:

The first person to bring up the Barnes Dance will be invited to leave this discussion permanently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R48VD6piK6o

[dbb]

I get the LPI at the intersection of 15th and Madison heading west. I specifically avoid pulling out on the LPI because I really doubt the average motorist knows the law and they would likely see me as a scofflaw cyclist. The two seconds (or so) I get from the LPI pales in comparison to the potential risk to the public perception of cyclists.

[lordofthemark]

@dbb 113827 wrote:

I get the LPI at the intersection of 15th and Madison heading west. I specifically avoid pulling out on the LPI because I really doubt the average motorist knows the law and they would likely see me as a scofflaw cyclist. The two seconds (or so) I get from the LPI pales in comparison to the potential risk to the public perception of cyclists.

I am willing to obey the law for the sake of optics. Actually foregoing what I have the legal right to do for the sake of optics, seems a bit much. Maybe the details are different. On Eye Street, I typically come to a halt at the red, wait patiently (in marked contrast to what I know drivers see other cyclists doing there and elsewhere) and then proceed precisely when the ped signal changes to walk. Any driver observing me can see what I am doing, and either A. Think “Oh, he is a lawful cyclist because he did not go through the red, so maybe bikes are allowed to proceed on LPIs” or B. Think “he is a scofflaw for using the LPI, but still better than about half the cyclists I see around town, so maybe cyclists are only scofflaws in limited, careful ways”

[mstone]

@lordofthemark 113851 wrote:

I am willing to obey the law for the sake of optics. Actually foregoing what I have the legal right to do for the sake of optics, seems a bit much. Maybe the details are different. On Eye Street, I typically come to a halt at the red, wait patiently (in marked contrast to what I know drivers see other cyclists doing there and elsewhere) and then proceed precisely when the ped signal changes to walk. Any driver observing me can see what I am doing, and either A. Think “Oh, he is a lawful cyclist because he did not go through the red, so maybe bikes are allowed to proceed on LPIs” or B. Think “he is a scofflaw for using the LPI, but still better than about half the cyclists I see around town, so maybe cyclists are only scofflaws in limited, careful ways”

Or, “C. Haters gonna hate”. Suffering the disease of scrupulousity won’t change the haters.

[Crickey7]

Can one really put a value on the feeling of smugness you get from knowing you’re legally in the right but still looking like you’re sticking it to The Man?

[lordofthemark]

@Crickey7 113857 wrote:

Can one really put a value on the feeling of smugness you get from knowing you’re legally in the right but still looking like you’re sticking it to The Man?

I would put it differently. I know that tireless work was put in by DC bike advocates to achieve this pale imitation of legalizing the Idaho stop, and that the DC political system, in defiance of all the cynics, actually approved it. Utilizing that right is the least I can do in acknowledgement of that.

[Terpfan]

@lordofthemark 113860 wrote:

I would put it differently. I know that tireless work was put in by DC bike advocates to achieve this pale imitation of legalizing the Idaho stop, and that the DC political system, in defiance of all the cynics, actually approved it. Utilizing that right is the least I can do in acknowledgement of that.

I’m confused, the Idaho stop is illegal? Or are you saying that going with the LPI is kind of like an Idaho stop? If the former, I’ve been doing it wrong as I usually stop (rare occassion where i’m along and/or traffic is totally gridlocked, which is the case on most evenings on 34th st).

[lordofthemark]

@Terpfan 113861 wrote:

I’m confused, the Idaho stop is illegal? Or are you saying that going with the LPI is kind of like an Idaho stop? If the former, I’ve been doing it wrong as I usually stop (rare occassion where i’m along and/or traffic is totally gridlocked, which is the case on most evenings on 34th st).

This. It achieves some of the benefit of the Idaho (getting out ahead of auto traffic when it is all stopped, though how much ahead varies with the length of the LPI)

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