It is true that people ride bikes on sidewalks here in an effort to stay out of the road, I see them every day and am passed by several when I walk to work. Even the ebikes are on the sidewalk. Also true that at intersections it’s dangerous as fuck, and by law they are supposed to be in the road and stopped at Red light. But if you are turning right on red, the pedestrian presumably has the right of way - you have a red light. I’ve had to slap the hood of several cars who were looking only at traffic in one direction and not the direction their car is about to move in, while I’m crossing a street on foot.
They do not have the right of way in this case, part of the issue, at least in my county, is that we have really backwards walk signals.
They show walk, then a few seconds later change to a flashing hand (don’t walk) with a count down, which makes very little sense. I don’t think the people are paying attention to them anyways.
We have those. The flashing hand and countdown, the pedestrian still has right of way - it’s just to let you know not to start crossing the intersection and how much time you have remaining to cross it. Sort of a long yellow light for walkers.
It does NOT give cars turning right on red the right of way. I don’t know where you live but if it’s the US you are misinterpreting that countdown and hand flashy sign.
I’m aware, I think they are very confusing to pedestrians. I know when I see a red flashing sign when I’m going to cross, my first thought is don’t… and I think it contributes more to people being confused and just saying screw it and crossing any time.
A walk sign with a countdown would make more sense, a red flashing hand with a count down could be interpreted as don’t walk till this is done, or you can walk for X# of seconds.
It is true that people ride bikes on sidewalks here in an effort to stay out of the road, I see them every day and am passed by several when I walk to work. Even the ebikes are on the sidewalk. Also true that at intersections it’s dangerous as fuck, and by law they are supposed to be in the road and stopped at Red light. But if you are turning right on red, the pedestrian presumably has the right of way - you have a red light. I’ve had to slap the hood of several cars who were looking only at traffic in one direction and not the direction their car is about to move in, while I’m crossing a street on foot.
They do not have the right of way in this case, part of the issue, at least in my county, is that we have really backwards walk signals.
They show walk, then a few seconds later change to a flashing hand (don’t walk) with a count down, which makes very little sense. I don’t think the people are paying attention to them anyways.
We have those. The flashing hand and countdown, the pedestrian still has right of way - it’s just to let you know not to start crossing the intersection and how much time you have remaining to cross it. Sort of a long yellow light for walkers.
It does NOT give cars turning right on red the right of way. I don’t know where you live but if it’s the US you are misinterpreting that countdown and hand flashy sign.
I’m aware, I think they are very confusing to pedestrians. I know when I see a red flashing sign when I’m going to cross, my first thought is don’t… and I think it contributes more to people being confused and just saying screw it and crossing any time.
A walk sign with a countdown would make more sense, a red flashing hand with a count down could be interpreted as don’t walk till this is done, or you can walk for X# of seconds.