September 18, 2008
Really Dangerous Intersection Gets A Fix
We've been interested in the Fell and Masonic deathtrap for a while. So, it was with incredible glee that we saw this, above, on our morning run.
It's pretty simple - there's a left-turn arrow for westbound cars that stays green for about six seconds. Then the turn arrow goes red, and the bike/ped signal goes green. A new, longer left-turn lane has been installed on Fell to ease some potential traffic congestion from left-turning cars who need to wait for bikes and walkers. And, they have cleared quite a few of the low-hanging branches from the trees next to Fell, so westbound traffic can more easily see the signals and approaching foot and bike traffic.
A simple, elegant way to make the Panhandle safer. In San Francisco. Who'd a thunk it?
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Its about time this happened....I've been ALMOST killed nearly half a dozen times at this intersection.
Before there was lots of shouting and swearing.
Now there will be peace.
It's going to take a while for drivers making that left onto Masonic to get used the idea.
There will still be those people who feel it is okay to bicycle across the street when it is not their time.
I turn at Fell and Masonic every evening on my way home from work. What I've seen so far? A lot of motorists confused but complying, safely and a lot of bicyclists outright ignoring the new sign and riding against the red into the crosswalk.
I'm very pro-bike, but this display really disappointed me. Hopefully people will catch on.
Thank you San Francisco!
I rode across this a few days ago, and while confusing at first, I think the bicyclists will get used to it and start complying.
For 3 years my apartment was the one right next to that Chevron.
I'd look out my window and watch motorists nearly miss pedestrians and bicyclists every day. Then I'd try to use the crosswalk and motorists would nearly miss me. Years later, after I moved, I found myself almost hitting people when I turned on that intersection.
Hi Cior! Its Karla!
Cior.......people have to get used to it.
Bravo. All cyclists vs. pedestrians vs. motorists stuff aside, as someone who is all three at various times, I'm glad the city finally stepped up to take care of this deathtrap.
That's funny, Cior, because what I saw last night was a lot of motorists running the red 'no turn' arrow during the green 'go bicycles' signal phase. Maybe this is a Rashomon thing, where everyone sees something different.
i biked across last night and i saw a lot of bikers running the little red bike light. i think it's because we're trained to go when we see the fell traffic lights turn green. hopefully they'll figure it out. not that bikers running red lights is anything new.
Like any new traffic signal, it will take a little getting used to. I both make that turn in my car, and ride across on my bike so I'm super cautious. I have to remark on how cute the bike icon is. I love it!
Fantastic, there's an actual bike signal there, just like in Europe? (I'm not sayin that everything in Europe is better, just the bike signals.)
Rode through the intersection today when I was almost hit by some jackass running the red arrow.
Also, the bicycle icon is ugly. Why not just install the left turn signal?
Now all we need is bicyclists to actually follow the traffic laws. As a driver/pedestrian I fear nothing as much as bicyclists.
yeah mrpactical, I can't think of anything more dangerous to drivers and pedestrians than bicyclists...
32 pedestrians were run over and killed by automobiles last year in SF.
and almost 800 pedestrians were injured by them.
This is San Francisco, bicycle operators ignoring the traffic signals happens constantly. I watched a small pack of them run the red at 6th & Market today, had to jump out of the way of yet another one yesterday at 5th & Mission.
@bottombracket: I've certainly had far more near misses with bicycles than with automobiles in San Francisco *as a pedestrian*.
@All,
Yeah, it's new.
What I can say is that the motorists I have witnessed are generally complying and the bicyclists are not. As mentioned by others, the running of the light is very similar to the same red runners all over the city.
Car people will continue to be dangerous. Bike people will continue to be jerks. However, I'd hoped for more-better communication and respect for this particular corner and all of its awful potential.
I'd really hoped that the news of the new signal and how it works would've been more public.
I'd also hoped that it could've had some very public trial runs on weekends.
Perhaps this happened, but as per usual -- it never percolated up adequately. Was the plan socialized? If so, where?
Looks good to me. Of course everyone will need to follow the lights (HAHAHA, this is SF) but at least it will reduce the risk, somewhat.
Maybe they will use a similar design in other locations where there's a lot of bike cross traffic.