Pedestrian Signals, NOT HAWK

[Brandon]

What's used for pedestrian crossing signals out there other than the standard r-y-g signal or the HAWK beacon?  Here's one from Rockford, IL that's neither:

[M3019C LPS20]

Where I am in New Jersey, there are several signalized crosswalks, in which ordinary, 12" single-section amber indications are in use. In order to cross a street, a pedestrian or bicyclist has to push a nearby button to activate these signals. Once activated, the signals begin to flash, and they alert drivers to slow down and come to a full stop (if necessary). There is a particular time length that these signals are in operation for, and, once that certain time length terminates, then they remain dark until the next activation. Below, are a handful of pictures of a set-up that I took a couple of weeks ago.












Another example of an interesting crosswalk set-up could be found in various locations of New York City (the concept of it might be in use elsewhere in the country as well).

This set-up typically consists of three-section traffic signals and ordinary pedestrian signals. The traffic signals themselves use the R/A/A configuration, in which the bottom section shows a flashing amber indication only when the signal controller "rests." In general, if there is a cross street present, then there are ordinary single-section traffic signals, and each one shows a flashing red indication at all times. A pedestrian is required to push a nearby push button to activate the pedestrian's signal cycle, of course, so, once activated, the traffic signals on the main drag change to steady amber to steady red. At this point, the pedestrian signal's cycle begins, and, once it terminates, the traffic signals change to their original state prior to activation.

Below, are two examples of this kind of set-up in New York. The example below is from Brooklyn, while the next one is from Staten Island.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.577407,-73.947623&spn=0.000033,0.021136&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.57743,-73.947448&panoid=UQMPY4QWCRE-05_eRXY_uA&cbp=12,60.79,,0,-0.5



https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.578792,-74.109607&spn=0.000016,0.010568&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.578865,-74.10951&panoid=ESM4WCDAqLbXsBQQbPpGTA&cbp=12,72.08,,0,1.37

[Zeffy]

I don't have a picture of it, so I attempted to recreate it. Basically, it is a flashing yellow signal activated by a push button. It's on Dukes Parkway W in New Jersey. Google Maps doesn't have it, since it was installed pretty recently, and the only image they have is from 2007. Go figure.



They kind of resemble the ones posted above me.

[Central Avenue]

That setup seems fairly common, from what I've seen. Here's one from Westerville, Ohio (with the beacon itself washed out by a streetlamp).



Bizarrely, that one in particular seems to flash constantly, rather than being activated by a button. Seems like a bad idea to me--if it's constantly flashing even when nobody's trying to cross, won't people just start to ignore it?

[sp_redelectric]

In the Portland area we have every type of pedestrian crossing signal imaginable...

We have your ordinary traffic signal.

We had airport runway style embedded lights, although these have been removed.

We have LED lights in ordinary signal fixtures, even solar panels to recharge the batteries.

We have overhead flashing beacons.

We have LED "minature" light fixtures, as soon here in front of the Tigard High School in operation.

All of the above pictures were taken in Tigard, Oregon...so we love our lack of consistency (and road jurisdiction does not equate to consistency, either...)

Tigard doesn't have any HAWKS, but Beaverton and Portland do.

[Revive 755]

We have LED "minature" light fixtures, as soon here in front of the Tigard High School in operation.

That is one poorly designed intersection; the high school driveways should have been lined up with 88th Avenue and monitored to see if it would meet signal warrants.

[roadfro]

We have LED "minature" light fixtures, as soon here in front of the Tigard High School in operation.

Those lights are officially referred to as "Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons" (RRFBs). FHWA has issued interim approvals for the use of RRFBs until they can be included in the next MUTCD.

[KEK Inc.]

In Seattle, we just have giant yellow "CROSSWALK" signs suspended over a crosswalk.  Motorists don't usually slow down, though. 

[DSS5]

Abingdon, VA has this unusual one - http://goo.gl/maps/YLyPB

There is a "push for crosswalk warning device" button just like the one M3019C LPS20 posted, but pushing it activates LED lights on the sign itself.

Boone NC has a couple of this type:



Drivers annoy me though, because they don't realize that flashing red lights at that signal mean that you can GO if there's nobody still in the crosswalk.

[KEK Inc.]

Boone NC has a couple of this type:



Drivers annoy me though, because they don't realize that flashing red lights at that signal mean that you can GO if there's nobody still in the crosswalk.

That's the HAWK signal type that this thread prohibits posting.  When it flashes red, you treat it like a stop sign, so every car has to do a complete stop, but they can go when it's clear.

[1995hoo]

Boone NC has a couple of this type:



Drivers annoy me though, because they don't realize that flashing red lights at that signal mean that you can GO if there's nobody still in the crosswalk.

That's the HAWK signal type that this thread prohibits posting.  When it flashes red, you treat it like a stop sign, so every car has to do a complete stop, but they can go when it's clear.

Enough people misunderstand the flashing-red phase that DC has started posting a sign saying that on flashing red you stop and then proceed when the way is clear.

[doorknob60]

We have LED "minature" light fixtures, as soon here in front of the Tigard High School in operation.

Those lights are officially referred to as "Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons" (RRFBs). FHWA has issued interim approvals for the use of RRFBs until they can be included in the next MUTCD.

Bend has installed these on the 2 unprotected crosswalks along the Bend Parkway (US-97). They put them there after somebody got killed (originally there were just regular yellow signs and a crosswalk). Whoever thought it was a good idea to put crosswalks on a high speed (45 speed limit, people routinely go 60+ though) expressway on the major through highway is an idiot. The NIMBYs probably forced them in during the design though. Is it really that hard to walk to the signal at Powers or Pinebrook? Badger to Pinebrook is 0.2 miles, Reed Ln to Powers is 0.3 miles. Close enough, deal with it, keep crosswalks out of places they don't belong.

Good view of it from Maps (45 degree):
At Reed Ln: http://goo.gl/maps/ba2Oz
At Badger Rd: http://goo.gl/maps/NvmKk
And a street view at Badger because why not? http://goo.gl/maps/XA8xG

[Brandon]

We have LED "minature" light fixtures, as soon here in front of the Tigard High School in operation.

Those lights are officially referred to as "Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons" (RRFBs). FHWA has issued interim approvals for the use of RRFBs until they can be included in the next MUTCD.

Bend has installed these on the 2 unprotected crosswalks along the Bend Parkway (US-97). They put them there after somebody got killed (originally there were just regular yellow signs and a crosswalk). Whoever thought it was a good idea to put crosswalks on a high speed (45 speed limit, people routinely go 60+ though) expressway on the major through highway is an idiot. The NIMBYs probably forced them in during the design though. Is it really that hard to walk to the signal at Powers or Pinebrook? Badger to Pinebrook is 0.2 miles, Reed Ln to Powers is 0.3 miles. Close enough, deal with it, keep crosswalks out of places they don't belong.

Good view of it from Maps (45 degree):
At Reed Ln: http://goo.gl/maps/ba2Oz
At Badger Rd: http://goo.gl/maps/NvmKk
And a street view at Badger because why not? http://goo.gl/maps/XA8xG

Bridges might have been a better idea for these, but the last two are screwy.  They require a pedestrian to make a 90 degree turn in the median and go at least 40-50 feet over to the next crossing.

This would have been better as a different thread though.  Something like "Screwed up pedestrian crossings".

[Signal]

What I see often used are flashing lights in the road. They are just like reflective raised pavement markers, but they surround the crosswalk and flash.
You push the button, the lights flash all together. You wait for traffic to stop, and then cross.


Example:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/pedbike/05085/images/fig110.gif

My only picture from one of them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94611454@N02/9136911339/

[Coelacanth]

There is an intersection near here that is a 4-way stop sign. Pedestrians have a press-to-cross button, which activates little LEDs around the border of the stop signs. Apparently this is to tell drivers, "no, really, STOP, there are people crossing".

[PHLBOS]

Where I am in New Jersey, there are several signalized crosswalks, in which ordinary, 12" single-section amber indications are in use. In order to cross a street, a pedestrian or bicyclist has to push a nearby button to activate these signals. Once activated, the signals begin to flash, and they alert drivers to slow down and come to a full stop (if necessary). There is a particular time length that these signals are in operation for, and, once that certain time length terminates, then they remain dark until the next activation. Below, are a handful of pictures of a set-up that I took a couple of weeks ago.



Another example of an interesting crosswalk set-up could be found in various locations of New York City (the concept of it might be in use elsewhere in the country as well).

This set-up typically consists of three-section traffic signals and ordinary pedestrian signals. The traffic signals themselves use the R/A/A configuration, in which the bottom section shows a flashing amber indication only when the signal controller "rests." In general, if there is a cross street present, then there are ordinary single-section traffic signals, and each one shows a flashing red indication at all times. A pedestrian is required to push a nearby push button to activate the pedestrian's signal cycle, of course, so, once activated, the traffic signals on the main drag change to steady amber to steady red. At this point, the pedestrian signal's cycle begins, and, once it terminates, the traffic signals change to their original state prior to activation.

Below, are two examples of this kind of set-up in New York. The example below is from Brooklyn, while the next one is from Staten Island.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.577407,-73.947623&spn=0.000033,0.021136&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.57743,-73.947448&panoid=UQMPY4QWCRE-05_eRXY_uA&cbp=12,60.79,,0,-0.5



https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=40.578792,-74.109607&spn=0.000016,0.010568&t=m&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.578865,-74.10951&panoid=ESM4WCDAqLbXsBQQbPpGTA&cbp=12,72.08,,0,1.37

I've seen those in Lititz, PA along PA 501 (Main Street) and in Salem, MA along MA 1A (Bridge St.).

[realjd]

Here in Melbourne we have this one:
http://goo.gl/maps/Bypi8

Stepping on the yellow pads activates blinking yellow LEDs embedded in the crosswalk sign.

The general attitude drivers have toward crosswalks is getting better here. They've started putting the "State Law: Drivers must stop to pedestrians in crosswalk" supplemental signs up. Drivers are actually pretty good about stopping for pedestrians at those crosswalks. It's lead to the situation though where drivers assume that the absence of that sign means they don't have to stop for pedestrians.

For the example above, the flashing lights usually get the point across and traffic (when there is any) will stop to let pedestrians cross.

[TEG24601]

I have never seen any pedestrian activate signals, other than the full 3-phase traffic signals anywhere on my journeys across the US.

[PHLBOS]

What's used for pedestrian crossing signals out there other than the standard r-y-g signal or the HAWK beacon?  Here's one from Rockford, IL that's neither:

The 2-signal head in that photo reminds me of some of the old pedestrain signals many North Shore towns in Massachusetts had (with both red & yellow signals being on = WALK signal).

If the signal head was pointed only at the sidewalk (as opposed to an adjacent street); it only had 2 lenses or 2 lenses on a 3-signal head with the lower lens covered with a flat piece of metal.

I believe that none of those above-mentioned old signals (w/only 2-signal heads at pedestrian crosswalks) still remain in service.  The last active on I'm aware of was back in the early 1990s.

It's worth noting that there are still signals in Salem & Beverly, MA that still feature the red/yellow on = pedestrian crossing on 3-headed signals.  One pedestrian signal assembly at the intersection of Lafayette St. (MA 1A/114) and Ocean Ave. in Salem, MA recently had a new mastarm erected w/two 3-12-inch heads that use red/yellow for pedestrian setting (facing 1A North/114 West).  The other signals are 3-8s (R-Y-R facing Ocean Ave.) and one 3-12 (R-Y-G) facing the 1A South/114 East. 

Until a pedestrian presses a button, the normal mode is flashing green for Lafayette St. and flashing red (lower lens) for Ocean Ave.