Seriously, can we fix the Rosslyn Light Timing?

[Tim Kelley]

Gave them another poke.

Here’s the traffic signals page: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EnvironmentalServices/dot/traffic/signals/EnvironmentalServicesHb16.aspx

If you (and anyone else) is feeling up to it–perhaps contacting them yourself as a resident rider might have some impact as well. (Various contacts listed on the page)

[americancyclo]

From the above linked page:

The Traffic Signal Program
is responsible for operation and maintenance of all electrical and electronic traffic control equipment, and providing signal design, construction and installation. This program is responsible for performing annual preventive maintenance on all on-site traffic control equipment and related hardware.
Email: M. Licalzi

can’t get that link to work properly, follow Tim’s link above, then scroll down.

[mstone]

Is the W&OD / Lee Highway signal by Falls Church also screwed up, or have I just been really unluckly lately?

[americancyclo]

I usually just go when I see cars moving, but I haven’t noticed an unusual timing with that crossing.

[consularrider]

@mstone 29959 wrote:

Is the W&OD / Lee Highway signal by Falls Church also screwed up, or have I just been really unluckly lately?

Probably no one is pushing the walk light button. It does seem like the left turn timing for southbound Lee Highway is slightly shorter. Also, I’ve started turning right onto Lee Highway and then left at Westmoreland by Chas’in Tail. So far I have had fairly good luck in either getting the left turn arrow or a break in the northbound traffic. Now if Arlington would only repave Westmoreland from Lee Highway to Sycamore.

[Tim Kelley]

@consularrider 29968 wrote:

Probably no one is pushing the walk light button. It does seem like the left turn timing for southbound Lee Highway is slightly shorter. Also, I’ve started turning right onto Lee Highway and then left at Westmoreland by Chas’in Tail. So far I have had fairly good luck in either getting the left turn arrow or a break in the northbound traffic. Now if Arlington would only repave Westmoreland from Lee Highway to Sycamore.

It’s been passed along.

[jnva]

I had a close call this morning at this intersection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIrboQajxN8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[bobco85]

@jnva 30179 wrote:

I had a close call this morning at this intersection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIrboQajxN8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

While I’m glad there wasn’t an accident, I see that you entered the crosswalk with a flashing red hand showing 10 seconds left as that car was starting its turn. At that point, you shouldn’t begin crossing because you don’t have right-of-way (according to Virginia Code § 46.2-925). I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t see the law on your side had you collided with the car.

The video shows a need for better balance at that intersection so that drivers get their chance to pass through the intersection and don’t have to resort to aggressive maneuvers. I think a bike signal is necessary here.

[vvill]

@dasgeh 29930 wrote:

Bumping this to its own thread, in the hopes that are friends in the County can get this fixed. As a reminder, here’s the situation with the light timing at Lee and Lynn:

…

Agreed. And what’s even more strange about this is that the less busy light just couple hundred yards up at Custis & Oak St has a nice dedicated bike crossing light (although I do wish they didn’t use that pebble aggregate on the curb cuts – it’s quite slippery in the wet.)

@consularrider 29968 wrote:

Probably no one is pushing the walk light button. It does seem like the left turn timing for southbound Lee Highway is slightly shorter. Also, I’ve started turning right onto Lee Highway and then left at Westmoreland by Chas’in Tail. So far I have had fairly good luck in either getting the left turn arrow or a break in the northbound traffic. Now if Arlington would only repave Westmoreland from Lee Highway to Sycamore.

I think this is quite a good alternative manoeuvre. I usually take it a step further when I’m going west bound and take Van Buren => E Columbia => Little Falls since I pop off the W&OD at Little Falls anyway. I often prefer crossing as road traffic at the E Columbia / 29 light rather than ped traffic at a busier intersection.

[jnva]

@bobco85 30203 wrote:

While I’m glad there wasn’t an accident, I see that you entered the crosswalk with a flashing red hand showing 10 seconds left as that car was starting its turn. At that point, you shouldn’t begin crossing because you don’t have right-of-way (according to Virginia Code § 46.2-925). I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t see the law on your side had you collided with the car.

The video shows a need for better balance at that intersection so that drivers get their chance to pass through the intersection and don’t have to resort to aggressive maneuvers. I think a bike signal is necessary here.

Your right about the flashing hand, but I started crossing when the light turned green and I was in a line of people crossing. Agree there needs to be a bike signal.

[Tim Kelley]

@Tim Kelley 30167 wrote:

It’s been passed along.

Reports suggest the WOD/Lee Highway signal hasn’t been changed at all.

[jnva]

@Tim Kelley 30230 wrote:

Reports suggest the WOD/Lee Highway signal hasn’t been changed at all.

It used to be (a few months ago maybe) that you would get the walk signal automatically. Now you have to hit the button for the walk signal.

[mstone]

@bobco85 30203 wrote:

While I’m glad there wasn’t an accident, I see that you entered the crosswalk with a flashing red hand showing 10 seconds left as that car was starting its turn. At that point, you shouldn’t begin crossing because you don’t have right-of-way (according to Virginia Code § 46.2-925). I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t see the law on your side had you collided with the car.

The video shows a need for better balance at that intersection so that drivers get their chance to pass through the intersection and don’t have to resort to aggressive maneuvers. I think a bike signal is necessary here.

Virginia desperately needs to update this section of the code to reflect the changes in crossing signal technology since 1974. There is no legitimate reason for someone to be required by law to stand on a corner when there is plenty of time to cross the street with a signal. Especially since the lights are now supposed to be timed for a walking speed of 3.5 feet per second, and the blinky hand time is coming out of the pedestrian share of the cycle, not the auto share.

The car should not have even been in the intersection, as it passed too closely to the cyclist already in the crosswalk, regardless of the second cyclist.

[mstone]

@jnva 30234 wrote:

It used to be (a few months ago maybe) that you would get the walk signal automatically. Now you have to hit the button for the walk signal.

Few things infuriate me more than crosswalk signals where you have to push a button, but still don’t get a dedicated cycle. I’m pretty sure I hit the button, but I’ll keep better track. Or maybe I’ll just give up and start crossing without the stupid walk signal, because sooner or later as a pedestrian you just have to admit the infrastructure is working against you and just do what is safe.

[Dirt]

It is weird and inconsistent. I haven’t been riding through Rosslyn much lately… Once last week, twice the week before.. None of those times were the lights timed correctly. Today I rolled through at about 2pm and they were perfect.

[Author]

Posts