To walk or not
Podcast Episode
WCLO's Steve Benton reports on confusion over "walk" and "don't walk" pedestrian signals
JANESVILLE — When does a "don't walk" signal mean keep walking? When you're a pedestrian already in the process of crossing a street.
Janesville senior engineer, Dennis Ryan, says there is some confusion about this, because many people think the "walk" signal should be longer. He says the "walk" light only has one purpose, to signal a pedestrian to begin the crossing.
The next phase, the flashing "don't walk" signal actually has two meanings for pedestrians. It means don't begin crossing the street, but for those already in the street, it means continue. Ryan says pedestrians need to really pay attention to the don't walk signal when it stops flashing. That's the indicator you should get off the street as soon as possible.
Ryan says once in a while they will lengthen the "walk" time at an intersection frequented by the handicapped or elderly, but most walk and don't walk lights are set to a federal standard.
Nov 28, 2008 at 11:15 a.m.
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Seriously?????
Nov 28, 2008 at 2:58 a.m.
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Gina, the "need" for the bike tunnel under Milwaukee street is proof enough that people are confused by the simplist task.
Then again we do have people that just walk out infront of cars EXPECTING them to be able to stop in time on top of the idiots who dont watch where they are driving.
Nov 26, 2008 at 10:11 a.m.
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I'm amazed that people are confused by the walk sign. This is something I was taught in kindergarten. Do the schools and parents not teach this anymore because everyone gets a ride everywhere?
Nov 26, 2008 at 9:17 a.m.
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I am a young adult and I must walk like a turtle, cuz everytime I start my walk across the street the Walk turns to Don't walk by the time I place my left foot on the pavement. (I start with my right :-) ) I can't imagine what others go through.
Nov 25, 2008 at 10:56 p.m.
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walk or dont walk??
Nov 25, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.
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Why this "story"? Everyone walking in Janesville already knows that pedestrians don't have ANY rights to cross the street with people running red lights and not looking where they're going. One time I saw a woman in a WHEELCHAIR who was crossing while the walk light was on, nearly get run over by a car turning. And then she almost got hit by the person turning behind the first car!!! A better story would be "WAKE UP DRIVERS! LOOK!"
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