Description
If there are walk signals in both directions, I cross intersections diagonally, but the comment thread for a story in the New Haven Independent (http://bit.ly/fOQNP4) says this might be illegal. Commenter William Kurtz posted this statute:
Sec. 14-300b. . . .
(b) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by a pedestrian-control signal or police officer. When authorized by a pedestrian-control signal or police officer to cross an intersection diagonally each pedestrian shall cross only in accordance with such signals or as directed by such police officer. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway between adjacent intersections at which traffic or pedestrian-control signals are in operation except within a marked crosswalk.
What does it mean to be "authorized by a pedestrian-control signal?" Could we please get an authoritative answer from the Department of Traffic, Transportation, and Parking?
11 Comments
Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking (Registered User)
John Fitzpatrick (Registered User)
Closed John Fitzpatrick (Registered User)
Nutmegger (Guest)
Avon Lady (Guest)
I admit to being a bit surprised to hear this, as it always just seemed to be common sense that, with the entire intersection shut down, you could freely cross on the diagonal. It's an extraordinarily inefficient use of the space otherwise.
Take, for example, the intersection just north of the posted example, at Church and Elm. Let's say you're standing on the SE corner (by New Alliance/First Niagara/whatever) and trying to get to the NW corner by the courhouse. Traffic is currently flowing north up Church. Once their light turns red, it's a 4 way red light with all walk signs on. As I can't cross diagonally, I cross Church to the SW corner (the Green), but by the time I make it there, there's not enough time left for me to cross Elm towards the courthouse. You'd then have to wait for traffic to stop flowing east on Elm before you could cross again. This strikes me as a little absurd.
I seem to remember something from middle school algebra that dealt with this question. Something about the shortest distance between two points.
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Avon - you are correct that it is completely absurd.
As someone posted on the NHI story related to this issue at http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/red_means_stop/ , Washington DC has been testing new diagonal crosswalks in its downtown area:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/dc-tests-new-diagonal-pedestrian-crossing-downtown
When can we do this in New Haven?
Reopened CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Closed Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking (Registered User)
juli (Registered User)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)