Milton Shift

Mon, Oct 18, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.

Not sure why so many people are complaining about bicyclists not stopping for lights or stop signs. They usually do so to avoid holding up traffic. It takes a lot longer for a bicycle to accelerate than a car.

krc

Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.

Lok: Well then, if you see a big yellow school bus stopping in the opposite lane with blinking yellow lights, keep on going. But if the lights are red, it doesn't matter how wide the boulevard is, you have to stop. The blinking lights are on the front of the bus too, y'know.

Tom Teague

Fri, Aug 27, 2010 : 8:59 a.m.

@treetown - I stand corrected on funeral procession rights of way and have fired my Senior Traffic Researcher for using a specious site for that data.

StrongFire

Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 1:58 p.m.

I hope it will have a lot of use. If it is not used on a regular basis then I'm concerned that drivers will get too used to it not being activated and possibly causing problems when it is. I can foresee where every person concerned about pedestrian safety will want one of these installed at their favorite crossing. I hope that there are standards in place to evaluate the numerous requests that are bound to follow.

Some Guy in 734

Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 12:07 p.m.

Apologies for the double post, but... Ed: You're absolutely right--if it's 3 a.m. Other times of the day, though, it's anybody's guess.

Some Guy in 734

Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 12:05 p.m.

Sandy--in theory, traffic is already obligated to stop every time a pedestrian wants to cross. That's what the white stripes in the street mandate. Why is it worse to make things safer for pedestrians by conspicuously alerting drivers?

Woman in Ypsilanti

Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.

@speechless I think it may be because the city council's new rule is a bad one but the signal is a good idea. imho anyways. Just because people were against the new ordinance doesn't mean that they are anti-pedestrian. As a frequent pedestrian, I hate the new rule and for my own safety, ignore it (i.e. I don't cross the street until traffic has cleared).

Speechless

Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 8:45 a.m.

Wow. I'm quite impressed overall by how much better in tone, and how much more reasonable and intelligent, this discussion thread has been in comparison to the one shortly before the August primary election when the city council made a modest adjustment in rules between drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks. Reading these comments, I can once again recognize the city I live in — thank you! With the Lesko-ites no longer showing up in numbers to play the contrarian-at-any-cost game, we do not see an inundation of commentary that condemns the city for a move to greater pedestrian safety while it defends a right to troglodyte behavior by selfish motorists. (Of course, a few bicycle-related rants still slip in, but hey, no big deal.)

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Aug 26, 2010 : 6:29 a.m.

according to "ameliajayne"s earlier post above... "They are not able to put in a standard stop light because this is considered to be business 94 and the # of lights allowed for a state thoroughfare have already been installed." So it would appear a standard stoplight is not an option.

sandy schopbach

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 11:41 p.m.

Yes, there is a need for a safe crossing there by the Y. No question. But to clarify what I said yesterday, I think a traffic light would be a better solution, because the HAWK signal would stop traffic very often, any time a pedestrian wanted to cross, whereas a traffic light would regulate not only cars but also pedestrians. Otherwise, you'll find that traffic will be stopped much more frequently, causing bad traffic jams. A traffic light would solve the pedestrian problem without causing a different problem. I hope that is more clear.

treetowncartel

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:51 p.m.

@ Ed, set up a race, one through town and one on the e-way. No speeding, scouts honor. Also, funeral processions do have the right away in Michigan.

justcary

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.

It's a tossup. I cross there regularly with my daughter on bikes, and it's not typical to wait more than one light change before a safe opening in the traffic. My question is, why not just a green-yellow-red signal there, that stays green until there's demand (like the parking lot on Fuller)? Why does it have to be a different format that drivers are unaccustomed to?

msddjohston

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 7:32 p.m.

I think the intersection to be tested will show it to be the most dangerous intersection in the community of persay downtown. Thank you all for this remedy!

michiganexpats.com

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 4:23 p.m.

Agreed, this is a great idea.

Lokalisierung

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 4:04 p.m.

"solid yellow: prepare to stop" Actually Driver's Ed 101 is "Stop if and only you can do so safely."

bhall

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 3:58 p.m.

@Independent thinker, cyclists may "filter forward" on the right, past a line of cars that are stopped or slowing. It's legal as long as the cyclists is as far to the right as practicable.

Phillip Farber

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 3:36 p.m.

It astounds me that many posting here do not seem to know what various traffic lights mean. blinking yellow: proceed with caution solid yellow: prepare to stop blinking red: stop, then proceed with caution solid red: stop Come on people! This is Drivers Ed 101.

Michael Cohen

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 3:22 p.m.

This signal will be especially useful for residents of Lurie Terrace, the high rise senior housing facility on the north side of Huron at West Park. Currently, to get to the Y the residents have to walk up the hill to 1st St. and then back down the hill in order to get to a building that is more or less right across the street.

Independent_Thinker

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.

Every other driver in AA is a horrible driver, plus the bikers to boot who want to "share the road" but follow "none of the rules". When I get stuck in traffic I'd love to see a biker just wait in line forever behind me like a car would have to do. Same road, dsame rules is such nonsense. The round-a-bout at Plymouth has been there a year now and it is still a carousel of idiots on a daily basis. How are all of these horrible drivers going to figure this out??? I will be avoiding it.

crayzee

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.

If this new light works, it would be great if the city would tear out other lights and replace them with an on-demand system. The amount of time spent stopped at traffic lights in this town can be insane. For a town which likes to think of itself as eco-conscious, we burn an incredible amount of gas while idling at traffic lights. For example, the journey from Busch's (Plymouth and Green) to Busch's (S. Main) is about only 4.6 miles as the crow flies. Unless you're making the trip at 3 am, it will take you 25 minutes -- even more with the current construction. Many of those 25 minutes you'll spend idling at traffic lights.

e901

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 2:59 p.m.

"These signals look and operate like nothing we've ever seen or experienced and are going to be a real danger with all the new out of state/country, young, elderly and many other drivers having a difficult time navigating the existing signs and signaling we already do have." Seriously? If it is too much to expect of drivers to be able to drive and follow traffic signals at the same time (yes, even read signs), then maybe they should start walking (or go back to driving school)... And do you really think no one knows what to do at a flashing red light? Wait, maybe you are right.

John of Saline

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.

What should be warming to your cold hearts is that if a person rides a bike with disdain of the traffic laws, eventually they may have an accident and possibly end up in the hospital. No, that DOESN'T warm my heart. Even if it's 100% not my fault, I do not want to hospitalize/kill a cyclist. So I treat them all as morons who can and will do the most hazardous possible thing at any given moment. I estimate that, of the cyclists I see in Ann Arbor, 90% go right through red lights and stop signs; this new signal will be just the same. I am astonished when a cyclist signals and does the right thing in Ann Arbor--because, in my experience, it is rare. And a (much smaller) percentage just do whatever they want, including dashing out at a right-angle into traffic lanes and wondering why they get honked at. I once stopped at a four-way stop with cyclists approaching the intersection from the right on the cross-street, and no other vehicles. I began to go again, turning left, then had to jam on my brakes as they sailed through the stop, oblivious. They were parents, each with a cute kid on their bikes! I pulled alongside, told them they should STOP at stop signs, and incidentally they shouldn't be parents.

Tom Teague

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.

Lokal - OR if directed not to stop by a police officer directing traffic at the school bus stop. Having been raised in a state where funeral processions were given right of way (they are not in Michigan), I was amused to also see this: A funeral procession approaching a stopped school bus displaying flashing red overhead lights must stop and cannot proceed until the flashing red lights are extinguished. In other words, at least in Michigan, the only things certain in life are school bus stops and taxes.

Speechless

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 1:05 p.m.

The HAWK setup over the intersection looks great. Over time, as drivers gradually become accustomed, these should greatly enhance crosswalk safety and make the experience less scary for pedestrians. It's a much better arrangement than having only some lines in the road and a yellow pedestrian sign somewhere off to the side, which too often led to motorists barely noticing a crosswalk's existence. It won't be sad at all to play street chicken far less often in the future.

Joe

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 12:47 p.m.

This is fantastic. I look forward to this area becoming safer and more convenient for pedestrians and bicyclists, for two reasons. One is simple justice: why should our communities exist only to serve those who can afford a car? And the second reason is that better biking and walking facilities equal smoother and faster traffic. Most people see it as a zero-sum game: the better cities are towards pedestrians, the worse they are towards cars. But the opposite is true. Cars cause traffic problems, not pedestrians, and so if more people walk instead of drive, the better all traffic will be. The bicycle signal might be a really good idea, because a lot of sensor lights don't recognize bicyclists, forcing them to run a red light. I have to do that whenever I leave WCC if a car doesn't pull up behind me to trigger the light. As for all the bike comments here, I do think it's really funny that people are complaining about bikes going through crosswalks, when cars usually don't stop at this crosswalk either. You complain about bikes ignoring stop signs, when plenty of motorists ignore bicyclists and pedestrians at stop signs. I was hit by a car while riding across an intersection because of that. On another occasion, while crossing a crosswalk on foot, a car started driving into me despite having a red light. Breaking the law is breaking the law, but a car breaking the law is much more dangerous than a bicyclist breaking the law. Plank in your own eye.

Lokalisierung

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 12:36 p.m.

"but never the red and if the little flipout stop sign is out stop immediately." Yup, unless you're on the other side of a boulevard.

NUXI

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 12:12 p.m.

Ummm... Why is a completely new and different type of signal needed for this?!? Just install a plain old green/yellow/red traffic light and make it go to red when a pedestrian hits the crosswalk button.

krc

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : noon

The yellow lights indicate the bus is stopping or has stopped at a predetermined pickup or drop off site, so, proceed with caution. Yoy may pass on the yellow, but never the red and if the little flipout stop sign is out stop immediately.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.

"You DO NOT have to stop for yellow blinking lights on a school bus, only red." Which is part of my confusion. The red is always preceded by a yellow but if the yellow doesn't always lead to a red whats the point of the yellow? I assumed it was to tell me "stop if you can" as a red is about to happen, sort of like a stop light. What is the point of the yellow flashing light on the school bus if its not an advance warning of an impending red?

Lokalisierung

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.

The Prius does roll pretty far out, but it may be becasue there is no stop line it must stop behind, and there appears to be a large tree on the corner, so maybe the prius is moving to the see clear point which is legal (well in Michigan anyway).

Lokalisierung

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 11:21 a.m.

"hopefully its less confusing than those yellow blinking lights on a school bus. I've stopped for those things on multiple occasions only to have the bus driver wave me through as the red stop arm ain't coming out any time soon I guess." You DO NOT have to stop for yellow blinking lights on a school bus, only red.

SillyTree

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 11:12 a.m.

I watched the Prius a couple of times. I wonder if there is something off camera that is fooling the eye. The Prius does stop, it just seems like it stops in the intersection. But the leaves in the street form an edge where the cross traffic goes through the intersection and the Prius appears off the traveled part of the cross street. A red car passes from left to right and is unimpeded and seemingly unconcerned with the position of the Prius.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.

hopefully its less confusing than those yellow blinking lights on a school bus. I've stopped for those things on multiple occasions only to have the bus driver wave me through as the red stop arm ain't coming out any time soon I guess.

Some Guy in 734

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:52 a.m.

Andy Jacobs--there already is a zebra crossing there. It's not your fault for not knowing that. You have plenty of company.

Soothslayer

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.

Another problem with these automated thinking devices is pedestrians will assume they are being properly understood and obeyed and instead of being cautious and looking they will just proceed when they are told to. Watch the video. Since its not a real light drivers don't know what to do when its flashing yellow or flashing red. The car behind had to hit the brakes hard because they were not planning on stopping.

Soothslayer

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.

This is entirely new and will cause even more confusion and potential danger than the roundabouts everyone was fussing about. These signals look and operate like nothing we've ever seen or experienced and are going to be a real danger with all the new out of state/country, young, elderly and many other drivers having a difficult time navigating the existing signs and signaling we already do have. I see this signal and its strange patterns not being understood and causing people to get rear ended, stop all the time, stop at the wrong time or stop none of the time. If there is so much pedestrian traffic how about a zebra crossing where if there is a pedestrian waiting you have to stop? If the idea is to allow efficient ways for both traffic and pedestrians to pass this is far too complicated and elaborate. Try a cheap zebra crossing first. If a pedestrian is at the side wanting to cross you stop. After they cross you proceed. Magic!!

anonymous

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:31 a.m.

This is fantastic news! Seeing as pedestrians ALWAYS have the right-of-way in a crosswalk - NOT cars - having a light there will not cause drivers to stop any more than they already should have been stopping. If you find yourself having to stop more often with the light in place, congratulations, you've been breaking the law for years. Way to go!

5c0++ H4d13y

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.

I cross there from time to time and drive past on a regular basis. This is a good idea because the traffic is fast and it's not always easy to see pedestrians waiting to cross considering there are so many trees close to the road in A2. Traffic into town wont be impeded that much because they are all going to get stopped in the next block or two anyway. Out of town traffic gets stopped at 7th most of the time. This will be a low frequency stop and will be a wash IMO. But really who cares if a car driver has to wait? They have air conditioning, coffee, radio, nice leather seat... they can wait for a for someone to shlub across a street. But for those of us that cross on foot it will be very helpful.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.

@ameliajayne "They are not able to put in a standard stop light because this is considered to be business 94 and the # of lights allowed for a state thoroughfare have already been installed." Interesting, I did not know that. If a car on Chapin/Third can piggyback on to the Hawk that would aid those cars in moving. If not it will make it much worse for those cars as the Hawk will interrupt the normal flow of traffic and make for fewer openings I would think.

Woman in Ypsilanti

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.

This seems like a good intersection for this type of crossing. We are not California and our drivers simply are not used to stopping for pedestrians who are waiting to cross the road. Our pedestrians aren't used to it either and most of the time that works out well. For the places where it doesn't this type of signal will make it obvious when traffic should stop which in turn will make pedestrian crossings more safe.

ameliajayne

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:18 a.m.

They are not able to put in a standard stop light because this is considered to be business 94 and the # of lights allowed for a state thoroughfare have already been installed. This is a great alternative. I hope it works for the sake of all of the families living on the north side of Huron.

nairda

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 10:13 a.m.

Excellent idea! It will be good to see more of these around town, hopefully.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:55 a.m.

how much would a real stop light cost? One that activates for a pedestrian with a button or a car on Chapin/Third? If a car is waiting at Chapin/Third to cross or get on Huron are they allowed to piggyback on the Hawk signal? (as long as they don't mow down the pedestrian)

AlwaysLate

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.

Sounds great. But, Im wondering about a few things I saw in the video. 1.When was the last time you pushed a crosswalk button and nothing happenedor nothing happened for about 3-5 minutesas if the button wasnt even connected and the lights were running on a pre-determined program? 2.The first kid walks through the crosswalk at normal walking pace. When was the last time you were able to walk across the street before the warning light started flashingor even before the red hand/person reappeared? That kid was half way down the block before the light changed! 3.Flashing red and yellow lights. Most drivers dont know what they mean. Did you notice that the cars coming toward the camera started forward during the flashing red, which is allowed after coming to a complete stop. The cars going away from the camera didnt move at all. 4.As in the video, the bicycle signal control will have to be near the street, not on the sidewalk. Bicycles are not suppose to be on sidewalkssorry A2 cyclists! 5.Yeah, whats with the Prius driver? Watching his gas gauge and texting the results to his friends I suppose! Lots of education on both sides required!

Some Guy in 734

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.

Sandy--I'm trying to understand the logic there. While there "may be a need for a safe pedestrian crossing" (what praise!) on "one THE [sic] main streets", you're saying it's undesirable to only stop traffic based on demand, because backups must be minimized. So you recommend a traffic light, which would likely stop traffic more? That's better?

leaguebus

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:37 a.m.

This is a great idea! I used to bike that way to work, and it was always hard to cross Huron because of the volume and speed of the traffic. To the people that dislike cyclists. What should be warming to your cold hearts is that if a person rides a bike with disdain of the traffic laws, eventually they may have an accident and possibly end up in the hospital. I have not seen many vehicle drivers end up in the hospital in a crash with a bike. The problem is that once you decide that cyclists are scofflaws, you treat all of them as scofflaws, even the ones that abide by the law. I have ridden daily (even in the winter)for about twenty years and there are lots more bad car drivers than bicycle drivers. I have never had a serious accident as I cycle defensively, but have been hit several times by parked drivers opening their car doors. Luckily I have never been seriously hurt after being doored. Yes, we even have a verb for it as it happens way too much. Again I say, cyclists that are hit by cars always end up in more pain than the driver of that car, no matter who is at fault!

Steve Borgsdorf

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:33 a.m.

Hooray! This is a neighborhood intersection close to the YMCA, West Park, and Lurie Terrace and it should be possible for pedestrians to cross. I walk and drive through this intersection frequently, and I'd rather wait in the car every now and again than risk life and limb to walk across. This will have very little impact on traffic flow, as this is only one block away from First, where Huron has a signal every block until Fuller.

Barb

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.

Can't wait to see this in action. That section of Huron is very dangerous. Slow 'em down!

Duane Collicott

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:21 a.m.

This will work for most of us, but the same drivers who can't comprehend how to use a traffic circle will have a tough time understanding this device.

Sally

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.

This is one place California sure saves money. Their law says that whenever a pedestrian steps off the curb ANYwhere, the traffic must stop. Makes sense to me.

Some Guy in 734

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.

Craig--right now I'm pretty sure the foot traffic doesn't warrant it, but only because it's so rough to cross there. I used to cross that street in the early evenings, after rush. Even at that hour, crossing the street was an adrenaline-fueled game of chicken. And that's WITH a signed crosswalk. The nearest traffic lights are at First and Seventh. With the Y, Lurie Terrace, West Park and the New Hope Outreach all around there, it makes a lot of sense to make the crossing more pedestrian-friendly. Whether drivers believe the "HAWK" (clumsy acronym!) is another story.

EasyArray

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.

How did the comments on a story having nothing to do with bicycles morph into a forum to air complaints on bicycles? I agree that bicyclists should obey the same traffic laws as cars, but this story has little to nothing to do with bicycles. As a frequent crosser at this intersection, I have watched countless cars flagrantly flaunt the law requiring cars to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk (including once a police officer on his cell phone!). Is that law less valid than the one requiring vehicles to stop at a stop sign? Isn't a law a law? Finally, I am much more concerned about a two-ton, eight-foot-wide SUV hitting me than a 200-pound, one-foot-wide bicycle.

Ignatz

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:45 a.m.

@Bob, Quinn and Emily: The bicyclist phenomenom is not exclusvie to AA. Monday Morning I was in traffic with a cyclist in Ypsi. He was blowing though red lights and stop signs like he was in an Abrahms.

sandy schopbach

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:43 a.m.

This is the stupidest idea I've heard of, ever since the decision was made to dig an underground parking lot less than two years after wasting taxpayer money on repaving the Library Lot. That cost a pretty penny. Now how much is this HWK signal costing us? And at a time when the city says it doesn't have enough money to repave streets, cut down sick trees and many more things. But it's not the cost I object to. It's where this HAWK signal will be placed. There may well be a need for a safe pedestrian crossing in that location, what with the Y being right there and Laurie Senior Center nearby. But Huron is one THE main streets in Ann Arbor, with traffic galore, and the fact that pedestrians will be interrupting the flow of traffic will cause gigantic back-ups both eastbound and westbound. If there is so much concern, then put up a stop light. But letting any and all pedestrians stop four lanes of heavy traffic at any moment... it makes no sense!

Emily

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:27 a.m.

I am all in favor of having this cross walk and I know the motor vehicles will stop..but will the bicyclists who use the road, will they stop? I don't think so. Bicyclists in Ann Arbor think they are top priority, even over pedestrians, and I don't think they will stop for such a thing. For instance, I was driving on Third and Madison, a stop sign for each direction. I stopped completely, put on my blinker and started to turn left. A bicyclist who was approaching the stop sign, did not stop and went on through. Man, was I pissed! If I have to follow the signs, then anyone on the road has to follow the signs. We'll see if this really works...I'm rooting for the pedestrians to cross safely. I hope everyone on the road follows this new sign.

Rita Mitchell

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.

The crosswalk light will benefit more people in the community than the "Y" patrons. I am not a "Y" member, and cross at this intersection at least twice per week. I will welcome the "hawk" light. The location on Huron St is at the base of two hills. Most often traffic is moving at top speed. As currently configured, I've never experienced traffic on Huron slowing for the presence of pedestrians in/near the marked crosswalk. It's an excellent change.

vicki honeyman

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.

Finally! I met with councilman Mike Anglin 2 or 3 years ago, asking council to discuss with MDOT putting a traffic light there because of the danger to pedestrians attempting to cross over to the Y. I'd rather a traffic light were installed but this is a good start. Hopefully elderly pedestrians will have enough time to cross Huron safely.

Morgan

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 8:04 a.m.

I'm all for safety for pedestrians in this crazy town. But...I seriously think bikers will just zoom through the intersection as 90 percent now do anyway so it gets a little frustrating for car drivers.

Ignatz

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.

I'm all for pedestrian safety, as long as those legging it act responsibly. I'm glad to see this particular device being used, as it will not cycle continuously and therefore, needlessly stop traffic.

Mugsy

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.

Wow, that Prius REALLY rolle through that stop sign. I think this is a great thing to test - Ann Arbor is a pedestrian town. Hopefully the city will carefully monitor how well it works compared to others, track how much it ACTUALLY costs and make informed choices as to whether or not it's something more of the town could benefit from.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 7:10 a.m.

"The City of Ann Arbor would like to install a pedestrian-activated traffic crosswalk signal on Huron Street to allow safer access across the street for patrons of the YMCA" according to the YMCA website they service 25,000 people, half over the age of 18. That comes out to 8 bucks a head for the adults to fund the thing. I don't do "fancy coffee" but can't one drop 8 bucks in a couple visits to the Latte/Cappuccino house?

Bob Heinold

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.

The odds are good that drivers will stop, but the odds are poor that cyclists will stop. HRH

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 6:55 a.m.

upon further thought maybe the cost is not relevant. As long as the timer is "properly" set between the light cycles it could be an incredible source of revenue.

Craig Lounsbury

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.

Seems like a good idea if the foot traffic warrants it. How much foot traffic is there at that intersection? Was a need study actually done? How much does it cost to install and maintain?

KJMClark

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 6:39 a.m.

It's really impressive to see Michigan finally doing something to help pedestrians. I think we have to acknowledge that it's going to take a while for motorists to accept that they have to stop for pedestrians, even in crosswalks. We're going to need signals like this for a decade or two to reset expectations. Maybe we should consider one of these signals for the mid-block crosswalk on Washtenaw that goes to Tappan Middle school?

Linda Peck

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 6:31 a.m.

This is a perfect place to try it. Although it will stop traffic, I think it is worth a go. It is better than having people try to beat the traffic and rush across, especially with the "Y" there.

foobar417

Wed, Aug 25, 2010 : 6:23 a.m.

This signal is much needed to allow safe access to West Park from the Y.