Discussions

Just noticed on my way home yesterday going west that there is a new sign up for the north side. Appears that we are to be in the right lane to go straight now, but I don''t see anyone doing it. I guess until the markings are on the road and lights are going, nobody will do it? The people in the house on the corner can''t park there anymore. Wonder where they will because out front there is a bus stop not far from their house. And not much of a driveway.  
Just an observation. Drive safely people  
 
Edited by JoBeth, 2016-06-08 08:31:05

So they have turned on the new lights at 13th & Park, flashing red for 13th, flashing yellow for Park. But the 4-way stop signs are still up, which seems to create confusion. Half an hour ago I approached on 13th from the north, turning left. A lady in an suv who was close to a block away had the flashing yellow and a stop sign, but made it clear she had no intention of stopping or yeilding. If she had just slowed down a little I would have had time to turn, but she came barrelling through so I had to stop.  
 
Do the stop signs over-rule the flashing yellow, should she not have stopped? Most people seem to be still treating as a 4-way but I half expected somebody to do what she did, so I was ready. I think they need to remove the stop signs or shut the lights off till they put them in service!

I was through there a few times in the last few days and it makes no sense to have the traffic lights flashing yellow in one direction and red in the other, but still have the stop signs up. The only logical explanation that I can come up with is that the lights were accidently left flashing. If anything they should all be flashing red. But remember who we are talking about here.  
 
I guess just treat it as a four way stop for now and be cautious.  
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-06-11 18:58:43

I guess I will avoid this for a few days as most don't know what to do at a flashing yellow. but why did they activate the lights and not take down the stop signs???

Flashing Amber, red lights and stop signs??? I've been treating it the same as a 4 way stop as most have been. I hope they get it working soon.. Accident waiting to happen. I've been trying to avoid it but have to use 13th and park at least a few times a week.

I work off of 18th street and leaving my work is a GONG show because noone seems to have noticed that for probably a year or more now that the straight lane is on the right "turning lane" and the left lane is strictly for turning left. Assuming this is for traffic to flow smoother as the right lane would be able to always turn therefore always allowing those going straight to continue on instead of being blocked be a left turn vehicle waiting on the opposite flow of traffic. Another good location of error is Park and 26th. Super dangerous. The city should put out an announcement and make ALL paint lines very clear to see and understand! (And definitely remove flashing lights whilst co-existing with 4-way stop signs...) Jeeesh. Just asking for accidents to happen.  
**Point of my post = ALL intersections should be right lane straight. FYI.

I don't believe there was a sign up until recently to go west. I could be wrong, but there were always cars parked there, so nobody could use that lane anyway.  
I'm sure having the four way stop and lights flashing red/orange was just a warning to people that it would be working soon. And it's so nice to see them working now. And they were painting the lines this morning although, the right lane going west just passed 13th looks super narrow and there is a sewer hole there along the curb, so that could be a bad thing. I'm wondering how the school buses will turn there now...hmmm.

Sunshine Lover said "I work off of 18th street and leaving my work is a GONG show because noone seems to have noticed that for probably a year or more now that the straight lane is on the right "turning lane" and the left lane is strictly for turning left. Assuming this is for traffic to flow smoother as the right lane would be able to always turn therefore always allowing those going straight to continue on instead of being blocked be a left turn vehicle waiting on the opposite flow of traffic. Another good location of error is Park and 26th. Super dangerous. The city should put out an announcement and make ALL paint lines very clear to see and understand! (And definitely remove flashing lights whilst co-existing with 4-way stop signs...) Jeeesh. Just asking for accidents to happen.   **Point of my post = ALL intersections should be right lane straight. FYI. "

I disagree: "right lane straight" is a weird convention that I can't recall ever seeing outside of Brandon, and certainly isn't common if I have.  
 
The city is trying to improve the flow of traffic without spending the money on building proper intersections, but unfortunately, it doesn't work - the signs aren't visible enough, the road markings can't be seen for 8 months of the year, and drivers naturally fall back into the standard "left + straight" behavior if they don't know the area.  
 
I understand what the city was trying to do, but the non-standard behavior is more dangerous than it is useful, IMO, and if it were up to me, I'd pull all of the signs up and go back to the normal behavior across the city.

pudds said "    Sunshine Lover said "I work off of 18th street and leaving my work is a GONG show because noone seems to have noticed that for probably a year or more now that the straight lane is on the right "turning lane" and the left lane is strictly for turning left. Assuming this is for traffic to flow smoother as the right lane would be able to always turn therefore always allowing those going straight to continue on instead of being blocked be a left turn vehicle waiting on the opposite flow of traffic. Another good location of error is Park and 26th. Super dangerous. The city should put out an announcement and make ALL paint lines very clear to see and understand! (And definitely remove flashing lights whilst co-existing with 4-way stop signs...) Jeeesh. Just asking for accidents to happen.   **Point of my post = ALL intersections should be right lane straight. FYI. " I disagree: "right lane straight" is a weird convention that I can't recall ever seeing outside of Brandon, and certainly isn't common if I have.     The city is trying to improve the flow of traffic without spending the money on building proper intersections, but unfortunately, it doesn't work - the signs aren't visible enough, the road markings can't be seen for 8 months of the year, and drivers naturally fall back into the standard "left + straight" behavior if they don't know the area.     I understand what the city was trying to do, but the non-standard behavior is more dangerous than it is useful, IMO, and if it were up to me, I'd pull all of the signs up and go back to the normal behavior across the city. "

I have not seen once instance where this system has not slowed down traffic, especially now that right turning people have to wait for straight through drivers.  
 
As for the signs/street markings. You cannot rely on pavement markings when we can have snow up to 8 mths a year for sure!! Even 6th and Princess, which has been that way for years - I still see people weekly going straight through in the "turn lane". They just do not see the overhead signs.  
 
I am happy to finally see a few places in town putting up handicapped parking signs where they were not before. Makes no sense not to have them.  
 
I think a lot of the issue is people turn off their brains when they get behind the wheel. They go on autopilot. I don't even drive a lot in a day and I see dozens of stupid driving infractions or errors in a week. It's as if people just look at where they want to go and give absolutely no thought to the other three sides of their cars.

All I can say is, whoever planned the intersection obviously didn't take cyclists into account. The lanes are all on a tight squeeze, and there is no room for cyclists. I'm having motor vehicles going around my bicycle, and cutting me off. I have a right to be on the road, just as much as they do. And don't think they'd appreciate it if they were being cut off by me.  
 
..rant over. Thanks for reading.

Yes I'm the person who lives at that corner. We have tried to contact the city to try and get some added parking added but they are not prepared to make any changes. Trying to suggest pushing the bus stop down but still no one to talk to. City is frustrating and even though its safer for people crossing it's caused major problems for the home owners 250 feet in all directions of the lights.

Silverwing said "Yes I'm the person who lives at that corner. We have tried to contact the city to try and get some added parking added but they are not prepared to make any changes. Trying to suggest pushing the bus stop down but still no one to talk to. City is frustrating and even though its safer for people crossing it's caused major problems for the home owners 250 feet in all directions of the lights. "

I can't imagine the headache this is causing you. You have nowhere to park. Can you even park on the other side going east? Or I guess by your neighbors? At least the house across has a bigger driveway. The other two are businesses so lucky them. The little guy always loses out. Good luck with it.  
I did notice the lines on the west side are way too far over as far as I'm concerned. Why does the middle lane need such a big area for turning? Makes no sense to me.

JoBeth said "    Silverwing said "Yes I'm the person who lives at that corner. We have tried to contact the city to try and get some added parking added but they are not prepared to make any changes. Trying to suggest pushing the bus stop down but still no one to talk to. City is frustrating and even though its safer for people crossing it's caused major problems for the home owners 250 feet in all directions of the lights. " I can't imagine the headache this is causing you. You have nowhere to park. Can you even park on the other side going east? Or I guess by your neighbors? At least the house across has a bigger driveway. The other two are businesses so lucky them. The little guy always loses out. Good luck with it.   I did notice the lines on the west side are way too far over as far as I'm concerned. Why does the middle lane need such a big area for turning? Makes no sense to me. "

Hopefully with a bit of persistence some arrangement can be made to help you guys out.  
 
Jury is still out on the lights. I think it seems to be flowing better, but I am just cringing for the day I get stuck there due to a train. It is a bad enough gong show at 10th and Park when a train goes through....

Love the new lights! Only issue I found was that they cycled through too quickly !