Sharing the Road article in Westways, Auto Club of SoCal magazine
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Bob Shanteau
Dec 21, 2009, 8:26:20 AM12/21/09
to CABOforum, CBC, SDCBC
Scanned from January/February 2010 edition of Westways, the magazine of
the Southern California Automobile Club.
SHARING THE ROAD
How motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can safely make use of our streets and roads
BY PETER BOHR
It seemed so hard-hearted. In February 2006, a Los Angeles policeman ticketed an 82-year-old woman - loaded down with groceries and using a cane, no less - for walking too slowly across a busy street. The plight of Mayvis Coyle, a Sunland resident, caused quite a brouhaha among senior-citizen advocates, not to mention pedestrians everywhere, after the story made national newscasts and blogs.
The LAPD insisted the ticketing officer acted out of a concern for Coyle's welfare rather than a mean spirit. As Captain Ronald E. Marbrey, commander of the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division, said at the time, "We've had nine people killed this year to date, pedestrians in the San Fernando Valley - seven of them 55 years of age or older. Out of the nine killed, in seven cases the pedestrian was at fault."
Potential for Conflict
When motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians compete for the same section of roadway, conflicts and collisions are bound to occur. Anyone who's walked or bicycled Southern California's streets and roads can cite instances of near misses with impatient or distracted drivers, perhaps cutting them off in crosswalks or bike lanes.
But pedestrians frequently jaywalk, bicyclists often ride on the wrong side of the road and ignore stop signs and traffic signals, and joggers hooked to iPods can be oblivious to the traffic around them. And in pedestrian/vehicle collisions, someone walking under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is more common than you might suppose: In fatal car-pedestrian collisions in the U.S. between 1997 and 2007, in 35 percent of the cases, pedestrians had a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
A Shared Responsibility
Two things are clear. First, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists all have the right to use the roadways. Second, all groups share a responsibility to follow the rules of the road - state and local laws require it, and common courtesy demands it. In order for all to coexist safely, there also needs to be mutual respect among motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
What can be done to reduce the risk among all road users? Improving road safety has focused on three often overlapping strategies: education, engineering, and enforcement.
Education involves efforts to increase the knowledge and awareness, heighten the sense of personal responsibility, and change the behavior of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists through such measures as:
Overall, drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians in California seem to be getting the message. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) data, deaths and injuries from both vehicle-pedestrian and vehicle-bicyclist collisions have declined significantly in the state in
recent years. For example, between 1987 and 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, combined pedestrian deaths and injuries declined 23 percent, and combined bicyclist deaths and injuries fell 35 percent.
"Comprehensive initiatives that target all road users - educational awareness campaigns, building additional bike paths, improving the safety of pedestrians crossing roads, and enforcing the rules of the road - have made an important difference in saving lives," says Anita Lorz Villagrana, manager of community affairs and traffic safety at the Auto Club.
That's the good news. The bad news is that in California, pedestrians still account for a higher proportion of all traffic fatalities than the national average. Likewise, bicyclist fatalities are considerably higher in California than in the rest of the country. So more work to make our streets and roadways safer remains to be done.
Veteran automotive journalist Peter Bohr writes Westways' DriveSmart column.
Safety Tips for ... CYCLISTS
Obey all traffic laws, including stopping at red lights and stop signs and yielding to pedestrians.
Ride with motor vehicle traffic, on the right side of the road.
Maintain a straight line; ride predictably; and avoid swerving between parked cars.
Use hand signals to indicate stops, turns, and changes of direction to motorists and pedestrians.
Allow faster traffic to pass when it's safe; avoid needlessly blocking the road.
Pay attention to parked cars. Drivers may pull out in front of you or open a door in your path.
As you approach intersections, be aware of cars behind, beside, and in front of you who may try to cross your path. "Left crosses" are the most frequent crashes; "right hooks" rank second.
When riding with others, ride single file to allow motorists to overtake you safely.
Wear a bicycle helmet. (California law requires helmet for riders under age 18.)
When riding at dusk or after dark, use appropriate lights and reflective gear, both to make yourself conspicuous and to see better.
PEDESTRIANS
Walk on the sidewalk; when a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the left-hand side of the road, facing traffic.
Obey traffic signals. When crossing the street at a traffic signal, walk only with a green light, allowing yourself enough time to cross the street before the light turns red.
Keep moving. Walk as quickly as is safely possible to the other side of the street. Never stop in the middle of the crosswalk.
Make yourself visible in low-light conditions and at night-wear light-colored clothing or athletic clothing with reflective patches, and carry a flashlight.
Before you cross a street, allow enough room for oncoming traffic to stop safely.
"Pedestrians have the right-of-way" is not a license to cross a street wherever or whenever you want.
MOTORISTS
Slow down when encountering bicyclists or pedestrians.
Yield to pedestrians at intersections whether or not there is a marked crosswalk.
Give bicyclists extra room - three feet if possible - when passing them on the roadway. Otherwise, stay behind them until it's safe to pass.
Allow bicyclists the appropriate right-of-way; for example, at a four-way stop or when they are turning left.
When making a left turn, be aware of the possible presence and speed of oncoming cyclists.
When parked on the side of a street, look for passing bicyclists before opening your car door.
Watch for cyclists and pedestrians before exiting a parking space or driveway.
Avoid using your car's horn near bicyclists or pedestrians.
Don't expect child cyclists and pedestrians to know traffic laws or to behave predictably.
INTERNET SITES
AAA.com/roadahead State, regional, and national transportation issues
AAAfoundation.org/home AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Bicyclela.org L.A. City Department of Transportation bicycle information
Bikecommuters.com Issues related to riding a bike to work
Bikeleague.org League of American Bicyclists
Bikewalk.org National Center for Bicycling & Walking
Cabobike.org California Association of Bicycling Organizations
Calbike.org California Bicycle Coalition
Dmv.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/bike/safety/html California DMV website page on bicycle rules and safety
Pedbikeinfo.org Promotes safe cycling and walking
Youtube.com/watch?v=jdrrxlpQpt4NHTSA video on bicycle safety
BROCHURES
The following are available through the Auto Club, in English or Spanish, at Auto Club branches or by calling (800) 541-5552.
Between the Lines, about pedestrian safety (also available in Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese)
Bicycle Laws
California Pedestrian Laws
Getting Children to School Safely
Pedestrian Safety Rules
Ten Tips for Drivers
Walk Safe
California Bicycling Street Smarts: Riding Confidently, Legally, and Safely, a 48-page booklet, may be ordered while supplies last for $2 each, including postage, from the California Association of Bicycling Organizations. Please make checks payable to CABO-Street Smarts, and send to CABO-Street Smarts, 3335 N. Mountain View Drive, San Diego, CA 92116-1738. E-mail <cabo...@cabobike.org> for information about bulk orders.
AUTO CLUB INVOLVEMENT
The Auto Club is actively involved in education, policy, and engineering efforts to promote safe interaction among motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, including:
Providing educational material promoting bicyclists' safety, and encouraging bicyclists to wear
helmets.
Reminding all road users to follow the rules of the road.
Supporting inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in transportation-improvement projects.
Advocating for adequate and effective traffic safety laws and enforcement.
Encouraging adequate crossing protection, such as school crossing guards and improved signs, signals, and markings at crosswalks.
Conducting back-to-school educational campaigns targeting motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Creating educational campaigns promoting the safety of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, with special emphasis on protecting school-age and senior pedestrians.
SHARING THE ROAD
How motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can safely make use of our streets and roads
BY PETER BOHR
It seemed so hard-hearted. In February 2006, a Los Angeles policeman ticketed an 82-year-old woman - loaded down with groceries and using a cane, no less - for walking too slowly across a busy street. The plight of Mayvis Coyle, a Sunland resident, caused quite a brouhaha among senior-citizen advocates, not to mention pedestrians everywhere, after the story made national newscasts and blogs.
The LAPD insisted the ticketing officer acted out of a concern for Coyle's welfare rather than a mean spirit. As Captain Ronald E. Marbrey, commander of the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division, said at the time, "We've had nine people killed this year to date, pedestrians in the San Fernando Valley - seven of them 55 years of age or older. Out of the nine killed, in seven cases the pedestrian was at fault."
Potential for Conflict
When motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians compete for the same section of roadway, conflicts and collisions are bound to occur. Anyone who's walked or bicycled Southern California's streets and roads can cite instances of near misses with impatient or distracted drivers, perhaps cutting them off in crosswalks or bike lanes.
But pedestrians frequently jaywalk, bicyclists often ride on the wrong side of the road and ignore stop signs and traffic signals, and joggers hooked to iPods can be oblivious to the traffic around them. And in pedestrian/vehicle collisions, someone walking under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is more common than you might suppose: In fatal car-pedestrian collisions in the U.S. between 1997 and 2007, in 35 percent of the cases, pedestrians had a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.
A Shared Responsibility
Two things are clear. First, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists all have the right to use the roadways. Second, all groups share a responsibility to follow the rules of the road - state and local laws require it, and common courtesy demands it. In order for all to coexist safely, there also needs to be mutual respect among motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
What can be done to reduce the risk among all road users? Improving road safety has focused on three often overlapping strategies: education, engineering, and enforcement.
Education involves efforts to increase the knowledge and awareness, heighten the sense of personal responsibility, and change the behavior of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists through such measures as:
- Conducting safety campaigns in schools, churches, libraries, and community organizations.
- Publicizing new laws.
- Offering classes in bicycle safety and sharing the road.
- Holding neighborhood and community meetings, programs, and forums targeting problems specific to certain higher-risk groups, such as schoolchildren, seniors, or immigrant groups who might not be familiar with traffic-safety laws and procedures.
- Installation of"countdown" signals at traffic lights, which let pedestrians know exactly when a traffic light will change.
- Improved traffic signs in high-risk areas.
- "Sharrows," painted sections on a street or road that indicate areas that can be shared by bicycles and vehicles.
- "Complete street" policies to make streets safer and more user-friendly for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
- Widening of narrow rural roads, some of the most crash-prone in the nation.
- Adequate on-street presence of law enforcement.
- Temporary installation of speed trailers, which let motorists know how fast they're going and attempt to slow down traffic.
- Sting operations in which police patrol high-risk areas, issuing warnings or tickets to law violators.
Overall, drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians in California seem to be getting the message. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) data, deaths and injuries from both vehicle-pedestrian and vehicle-bicyclist collisions have declined significantly in the state in
recent years. For example, between 1987 and 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, combined pedestrian deaths and injuries declined 23 percent, and combined bicyclist deaths and injuries fell 35 percent.
"Comprehensive initiatives that target all road users - educational awareness campaigns, building additional bike paths, improving the safety of pedestrians crossing roads, and enforcing the rules of the road - have made an important difference in saving lives," says Anita Lorz Villagrana, manager of community affairs and traffic safety at the Auto Club.
That's the good news. The bad news is that in California, pedestrians still account for a higher proportion of all traffic fatalities than the national average. Likewise, bicyclist fatalities are considerably higher in California than in the rest of the country. So more work to make our streets and roadways safer remains to be done.
Veteran automotive journalist Peter Bohr writes Westways' DriveSmart column.
Safety Tips for ... CYCLISTS
Obey all traffic laws, including stopping at red lights and stop signs and yielding to pedestrians.
Ride with motor vehicle traffic, on the right side of the road.
Maintain a straight line; ride predictably; and avoid swerving between parked cars.
Use hand signals to indicate stops, turns, and changes of direction to motorists and pedestrians.
Allow faster traffic to pass when it's safe; avoid needlessly blocking the road.
Pay attention to parked cars. Drivers may pull out in front of you or open a door in your path.
As you approach intersections, be aware of cars behind, beside, and in front of you who may try to cross your path. "Left crosses" are the most frequent crashes; "right hooks" rank second.
When riding with others, ride single file to allow motorists to overtake you safely.
Wear a bicycle helmet. (California law requires helmet for riders under age 18.)
When riding at dusk or after dark, use appropriate lights and reflective gear, both to make yourself conspicuous and to see better.
PEDESTRIANS
Walk on the sidewalk; when a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the left-hand side of the road, facing traffic.
Obey traffic signals. When crossing the street at a traffic signal, walk only with a green light, allowing yourself enough time to cross the street before the light turns red.
Keep moving. Walk as quickly as is safely possible to the other side of the street. Never stop in the middle of the crosswalk.
Make yourself visible in low-light conditions and at night-wear light-colored clothing or athletic clothing with reflective patches, and carry a flashlight.
Before you cross a street, allow enough room for oncoming traffic to stop safely.
"Pedestrians have the right-of-way" is not a license to cross a street wherever or whenever you want.
MOTORISTS
Slow down when encountering bicyclists or pedestrians.
Yield to pedestrians at intersections whether or not there is a marked crosswalk.
Give bicyclists extra room - three feet if possible - when passing them on the roadway. Otherwise, stay behind them until it's safe to pass.
Allow bicyclists the appropriate right-of-way; for example, at a four-way stop or when they are turning left.
When making a left turn, be aware of the possible presence and speed of oncoming cyclists.
When parked on the side of a street, look for passing bicyclists before opening your car door.
Watch for cyclists and pedestrians before exiting a parking space or driveway.
Avoid using your car's horn near bicyclists or pedestrians.
Don't expect child cyclists and pedestrians to know traffic laws or to behave predictably.
INTERNET SITES
AAA.com/roadahead State, regional, and national transportation issues
AAAfoundation.org/home AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Bicyclela.org L.A. City Department of Transportation bicycle information
Bikecommuters.com Issues related to riding a bike to work
Bikeleague.org League of American Bicyclists
Bikewalk.org National Center for Bicycling & Walking
Cabobike.org California Association of Bicycling Organizations
Calbike.org California Bicycle Coalition
Dmv.ca.gov/hq/tpp/offices/bike/safety/html California DMV website page on bicycle rules and safety
Pedbikeinfo.org Promotes safe cycling and walking
Youtube.com/watch?v=jdrrxlpQpt4NHTSA video on bicycle safety
BROCHURES
The following are available through the Auto Club, in English or Spanish, at Auto Club branches or by calling (800) 541-5552.
Between the Lines, about pedestrian safety (also available in Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese)
Bicycle Laws
California Pedestrian Laws
Getting Children to School Safely
Pedestrian Safety Rules
Ten Tips for Drivers
Walk Safe
California Bicycling Street Smarts: Riding Confidently, Legally, and Safely, a 48-page booklet, may be ordered while supplies last for $2 each, including postage, from the California Association of Bicycling Organizations. Please make checks payable to CABO-Street Smarts, and send to CABO-Street Smarts, 3335 N. Mountain View Drive, San Diego, CA 92116-1738. E-mail <cabo...@cabobike.org> for information about bulk orders.
AUTO CLUB INVOLVEMENT
The Auto Club is actively involved in education, policy, and engineering efforts to promote safe interaction among motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, including:
Providing educational material promoting bicyclists' safety, and encouraging bicyclists to wear
helmets.
Reminding all road users to follow the rules of the road.
Supporting inclusion of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in transportation-improvement projects.
Advocating for adequate and effective traffic safety laws and enforcement.
Encouraging adequate crossing protection, such as school crossing guards and improved signs, signals, and markings at crosswalks.
Conducting back-to-school educational campaigns targeting motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Creating educational campaigns promoting the safety of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, with special emphasis on protecting school-age and senior pedestrians.
Bob Shanteau
Dec 22, 2009, 3:04:08 AM12/22/09
to SDCBC, CABOforum, CBC
Larry Hogue wrote:
There is no such violation in the CVC. Pedestrians should not dawdle, but there is no minimum speed limit for them.
The MUTCD has pedestrian signal timing guidelines. Basically, the Flashing Don't Walk plus yellow plus all-red should be long enough for a pedestrian walking at 4 ft/sec (3.5 ft/sec in the new MUTCD) to cross the street. Clearly, that does not serve the entire population, particularly the elderly, so the MUTCD says that a slower speed may be necessary for them.
Designing for the slowest pedestrian is not only impossible (no matter what walking speed you pick, there will be someone, somewhere who walks slower), it is also impractical. Traffic engineering is all about balancing safety against efficiency. If one were interested only in safety, no one would ever leave their house.
So traffic engineers strive to achieve an appropriate level of safety while still providing mobility. I don't know whether the new 3.5 ft/sec walking speed was based on research, but the intersection crossing time for the new bicyclist signal timing guidelines is based on the 10th percentile bicyclist as determined by data collected by a team at UC Berkeley. The new guidelines say that the green plus yellow plus all-red should be long enough for that 10th percentile bicyclist, meaning that 90% of bicyclists starting from a stop at the limit line can ride past the far lane next to receive a green before that lane received a green light. But what about the other 10%? Well, drivers are supposed to know that a green light does not mean "go", but rather that they "shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk":
Bob Shanteau
Transportation Engineering Liaison
I think it's pretty outrageous that an elderly person can get a ticket for walking too slow.
There is no such violation in the CVC. Pedestrians should not dawdle, but there is no minimum speed limit for them.
The MUTCD has pedestrian signal timing guidelines. Basically, the Flashing Don't Walk plus yellow plus all-red should be long enough for a pedestrian walking at 4 ft/sec (3.5 ft/sec in the new MUTCD) to cross the street. Clearly, that does not serve the entire population, particularly the elderly, so the MUTCD says that a slower speed may be necessary for them.
Is there a clearer example of how inhumane our roads and streets are? If elderly residents are crossing that street regularly, the crosswalk signal should be set to accommodate the slowest of them.
Designing for the slowest pedestrian is not only impossible (no matter what walking speed you pick, there will be someone, somewhere who walks slower), it is also impractical. Traffic engineering is all about balancing safety against efficiency. If one were interested only in safety, no one would ever leave their house.
So traffic engineers strive to achieve an appropriate level of safety while still providing mobility. I don't know whether the new 3.5 ft/sec walking speed was based on research, but the intersection crossing time for the new bicyclist signal timing guidelines is based on the 10th percentile bicyclist as determined by data collected by a team at UC Berkeley. The new guidelines say that the green plus yellow plus all-red should be long enough for that 10th percentile bicyclist, meaning that 90% of bicyclists starting from a stop at the limit line can ride past the far lane next to receive a green before that lane received a green light. But what about the other 10%? Well, drivers are supposed to know that a green light does not mean "go", but rather that they "shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk":
CVC 21451. (a) A driver facing a circular green signal shall proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a U-turn unless a sign prohibits a U-turn. Any driver, including one turning, shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.Of course, I and other traffic engineers know that many, if not most drivers do not know about this law. That's why the walking speed is being lowered and also why you see more all-red intervals as time goes on. Another development is that detection systems are being introduced that can extend the Flashing Don't Walk or the all-red if there is still someone in the crosswalk or the intersection. So our traffic signals are getting smarter, allowing traffic engineers to achieve a higher level of both safety and mobility for the traveling public.
(b) A driver facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, shall enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by that green arrow or any other movement that is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. A driver facing a left green arrow may also make a U-turn unless prohibited by a sign. A driver shall yield the right-of-way to other traffic and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
(c) A pedestrian facing a circular green signal, unless prohibited by sign or otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown.
(d) A pedestrian facing a green arrow turn signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, shall not enter the roadway.
Bob Shanteau
Transportation Engineering Liaison
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