Cyclists Get a Head Start: A Step Forward on Cyclists’ Safety
Following Washington DC lead, recently, New York City announced a new program called “pilot program” that allows cyclists to use pedestrians head-start signal instead of traffic signals to reduce cyclists’ fatal accidents in the city. These signals were installed in 50 designated intersections around the city.
With the leading pedestrian interval, or LPI, that has a high social benefits and low installation costs, people using bicycles will be able to cross the street when the light is red a head of motorists. Alongside with this initiative, Department of Transportation (DOT) will situate temporary signage at intersections where LPI’s already exists notifying that cyclists are able to follow the pedestrians and proceeds before motorists. The interval would be from 7 to 10 seconds depending on which street are you on.
This new policy will help New York City achieving its Sustainable Street Plan and solve the city mobility challenges, yet there are other intersections like the 9th St. between 8th avenue and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn are still off the list and it make sense to designate this intersection since it has a large parking lot and using LPI’s is a necessity to provide a protective pathways for cyclists.
Sources: 1. NYC safety pilot to give cyclists a head start at intersections. Smart Cities Dive Web site. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/nyc-safety-pilot-to-give-cyclists-a-head-start-at-intersections/520161/.
2. Menchaca C, Gordon D. Letting people on bicycles use LPIs: A new way forward on cycling safety. . 2018.
