W&OD Belmont Ridge Road Crossing

[mstone]

I think that should be https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BelmontRidgeFlashingBeacon

I told them they need to replace the blinking yellow light with a red one. (PHB/HAWK rather than RRFB.) I’m sure they care.

[hozn]

I love these lights (I indicated as much); I have only used them a handful of times, since I don’t ride out there as much as I used to, but have had 100% success rate with cars stopping. Much better than before the lights when one could wait awhile for a break in the traffic.

[mstone]

If you think the cars stop anyway, why not use a red light?

[hozn]

Well, not sure it matters, since they stop now. But, sure, put a red light, whatever.

[Vicegrip]

@hozn 98528 wrote:

Well, not sure it matters, since they stop now. But, sure, put a red light, whatever.

Agree. What is there works. Why mess with something that works as intended?

[mstone]

I don’t see such a success rate with stopping.

[hozn]

@mstone 98530 wrote:

I don’t see such a success rate with stopping.

What you time and how often do you cross?

Again, I have probably only been through a half dozen times since they went up, but it has been a complete success from my sample. The friend I was riding with (who rides more frequently out there) confirmed that they work great.

[mstone]

@hozn 98533 wrote:

What you time and how often do you cross?

Again, I have probably only been through a half dozen times since they went up, but it has been a complete success from my sample. The friend I was riding with (who rides more frequently out there) confirmed that they work great.

It’s mixed. It’s better than it was, but I still don’t have any confidence that a particular car will stop. (And they don’t actually have to, since it’s not a red.) So you’ve still got the same problem about not knowing whether they’re going to stop as you did before, and if you aren’t actually in the intersection, it’s not uncommon for the car in the far lane to just keep going even if the car in the near lane is stopped. Sometimes several of them. For myself it doesn’t matter–I’ve given up on the button and just go. When I have the kids crossing is a much bigger production, and I’d rather see a positive sign that the cars are going to stop before I let them into the road. This basically comes down to VDOT not wanting the cars to stop, so they won’t put in a red. If you think the cars do stop anyway, then there’s not reason not to put in a red–there would be no difference in behavior. It’s only if (as in my experience) it’s a coin toss as to whether the cars stop that it matters. Basically, if cars are stopping for you because they see the light, the device isn’t working as designed and VDOT is sad.

[Vicegrip]

@mstone 98537 wrote:

It’s mixed. It’s better than it was, but I still don’t have any confidence that a particular car will stop. (And they don’t actually have to, since it’s not a red.) So you’ve still got the same problem about not knowing whether they’re going to stop as you did before, and if you aren’t actually in the intersection, it’s not uncommon for the car in the far lane to just keep going even if the car in the near lane is stopped. Sometimes several of them. For myself it doesn’t matter–I’ve given up on the button and just go. When I have the kids crossing is a much bigger production, and I’d rather see a positive sign that the cars are going to stop before I let them into the road. This basically comes down to VDOT not wanting the cars to stop, so they won’t put in a red. If you think the cars do stop anyway, then there’s not reason not to put in a red–there would be no difference in behavior. It’s only if (as in my experience) it’s a coin toss as to whether the cars stop that it matters. Basically, if cars are stopping for you because they see the light, the device isn’t working as designed and VDOT is sad.

Why do you think VDOT does not want cars to stop?

I consider it a helper only. If the road is busy when I get to it I hit the button and wait until any oncoming cars have come to a stop. Any color light I am not going until they stop. I have no trust or expectation with regard to cars. Their messed up bumper is my funeral

[Author]

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