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
In the past, when diagonal crossings were used in the state, a pedestrian signal indicator would have been situated on an angle, in line with the opposite corner of the intersection. A crosswalk could also be painted on the diagnal and signs could be posted to indicate a diagonal crossing. At this point in time, diagonal crossings are not used in the state.
John Fitzpatrick
So it's illegal to cross diagonally?
Closed John Fitzpatrick
The question has been answered.
Nutmegger (Guest)
Actually they are still used in several places around the state, though new ones are discouraged. Obviously the law needs to be rewritten to reflect the reality of the rest of the world. Many states have older, counterproductive laws like these.
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.
Mark
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 Mark
Not convinced that this is an authoritative answer on the specific legal issues involved. Also, I believe that the city should immediately look into implementing measures like those in Washington DC, which is testing significant diagonal crosswalk systems, and the many other cities and towns (including some in CT) that have created diagonal crossings.
Closed Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking
"authorized by a pedestrian-control signal" means a pedestrian signal that is specifically set up to accommodate diagonal crossings for pedestrians. We do not use this type of pedestrian signal in New Haven. This issue will be closed. If you would like to continue the discussion, you can re-open the issue. Thanks for the post.
juli
it absolutely does not make sense for diagonal crossing to be illegal if the city insists on pedestrian signals that are illuminated on all sides at once, instead of concurrent crossings like in more efficient intersections elsewhere.
CT Livable Streets Campaign
New Haven is quite different from the State and should be able to adopt and test different policies, like Washington DC is doing.
Mark
Please read http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2012/09/bicycling-as-traffic-calming.html for more on the virtues of diagonal crosswalks, and pedestrian infrastructure in general.