After @slcmayor ordered that intersections in Salt Lake City give pedestrians the auto green light (instead of hitting the beg button), I asked UDOT if it would do the same.
The agency's answer was so profound, I need to share it in full.
#covidstreets
The agency's answer was so profound, I need to share it in full.
#covidstreets
UDOT spokesman: "We are evaluating that possibility, but it is unlikely as doing away with the pedestrian buttons presents challenges to safety and mobility."
UDOT: "Pedestrian recalls can negatively affect safety. Instead of traffic signals being actuated (where they come on only with demand and stay on only as long as needed), they would become more fixed in the duration of the green."
Keep in mind this entire thing is subjective.
UDOT: "More cars and bikes may potentially run red lights. More pedestrians may potentially jay-walk."
UDOT: "More cars and bikes may potentially run red lights. More pedestrians may potentially jay-walk."
UDOT: "The increased vehicle delay may also have a negative effect on air quality due to vehicles idling longer."
UDOT: "The reduction in efficiency would substantially increase vehicle delay – even with traffic volumes 50-75% of normal."
UDOT: "The reduction in efficiency would also apply to pedestrians. If more than one pedestrian happens to be waiting, this would actually increase the amount of time that those people would be required to wait and potentially stand in close proximity..."
UDOT: "Pedestrian recall would not prevent people from pushing the buttons. Many pedestrians push the button even when it is not needed.For this to be prevented, signs would need to be installed and every pedestrian button would need to be bagged and inspected on a regular basis"
UDOT: "This involves thousands of buttons just within Salt Lake City and would increase the risk of exposure to the employees that would be required to do this work."
UDOT: "UDOT and several cities have upgraded all the pedestrian buttons to be pressure activated. So, pedestrian buttons can be activated by an elbow, hip, or any part of the body that is covered in clothing and not necessarily the exposed finger or thumb."
Back to reality. I asked where the list came from and why it was so subjective. (No response.)
Then a follower shared with me internal emails from @UtahDOT that show a UDOT engineer came up with the list and shared it with a national organization...
Then a follower shared with me internal emails from @UtahDOT that show a UDOT engineer came up with the list and shared it with a national organization...
The engineer said giving people permission to cross the street without requiring them to push a button would amount to "Another win for "activism", and the war on vehicles." #CovidStreets
For all of the spin from @CarlosUDOT and UDOT's PR team about being committed to people, not just cars, you just have to peek behind the curtain at the agency's staff to realize why the it will doom entire neighborhoods to shave 30 seconds off suburbanites' commute.
