Convention Center traffic, part 3
It is a difficult intersection to cross, since cars turning right from east-bound Massachusetts Ave. don't pay attention to pedestrians and bikers. Actually, I'm surprised I haven't been killed yet.
Earlier this month, the city installed a special light for the right-turning cars, providing a chance for pedestrians to actually use the crosswalk without having to play live-action Frogger.
It's a great idea, except that the new light just showed up one day without any fanfare — no special cones or flags to note that suddenly the intersection has new rules.2
Most cars don't realize there is a red arrow and continue to make the turn without looking to see whether they have a red light or not.
Yet the existence of the light makes pedestrians feel more confident crossing the street without looking behind them to see if they're about to be roadkill.
The result is an even more dangerous intersection. And a louder one too, because if a car actually does stop at the red arrow, every car behind it starts honking incessantly.
Britt, we need you!
1You might recall that I've written about this intersection a couple times: once to mention the "3-D lane lines" and once a few months later regarding the "lane line thickeners."
2They did install a new sign saying "right turn on green only," but
no one seems to have noticed it.
Comments
California Vehicle Code Section 275: "Crosswalk" is either:
(a) That portion of a roadway included within the prolongation or connection of the boundary lines of sidewalks at intersection where the intersecting roadways meet at approximately right angles, except the prolongation of such lines from an alley across a street.
(b) Any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, there shall not be a crosswalk where local authorities have placed signs indicating no crossing."
In plain english, this means that there are crosswalks at intersections whether or not you have the paint that shows you where the crosswalk is. The only time there isn't a crosswalk is if there's a sign that says "crosswalk closed". Last time I was in San Diego, they did not "mark" the crosswalks in the Gas Lamp district, but that was several years ago.
Ok, I'm a total geek.
Just hang out at Connecticut and Calvert for a couple of hours a day and see cars run the lights northbound on Conn Ave and West on Calvert. Or 14th and K, northbound left turn. Three or four cars will usually run that one. I almost get hit crossing the street at least once a week.
Oddly, the one that driver now finally seem to pay attention to relatively new, 18th and Columbia, southbound. But I think that's only because the city changed the timing of the light so that the left turn onto Columbia is totally separate from the north/south lights.