(10-01-2017, 06:56 PM)GtwoK Wrote: Why the the cement so much lower than the top of the curbs? Can't quite figure out what's going on.

(09-23-2017, 07:53 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:

(09-23-2017, 03:13 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: ...

I don’t think I’ve heard the term “Pittsburgh Left”. Is that turning left on a new green before oncoming straight-through traffic has a chance to get going?

As to the questions about which traffic is controlled by the pedestrian crossing, imagine for a moment that the crossing was moved back from the intersection, maybe 50m although it doesn’t matter exactly how far as long as it is far enough that it is clear that the pedestrian crossing is not related to the intersection at all. Then it would be absolutely clear that you can’t go through the red to make a right turn, and it would be equally clear that a left turn during the red signal would be perfectly legal, in the same way that it is legal to go when the stoplight at the next intersection is red — signals don’t control everyone who can see them, only people who are coming up close to them.

And if, on the other hand, the intersection itself was fully controlled, it would be clear, in the absence of signage to the contrary, that the right turn on red would be permitted and the left turn forbidden.

But instead we have what looks like an independent pedestrian crossing, but so close to the intersection that it seems that intersection signal rules might apply.

Those intersections can be rather confusing.  Basically, I always take them as "don't cross the crosswalk", but things again, would be safer and clearer if we didn't have right on red.

Also, jumping the left before straight traffic is a highly illegal maneuver (equivalent in penalty to 50k over the limit/stunt driving charge), and also very dangerous, because pedestrians may be crossing.  And the West/Strange/Victoria intersection, among its various other problems, is notorious for drivers pulling this crap, and as a frequent pedestrian at this intersection, I watch out for drivers who do this.

(10-01-2017, 07:51 PM)GtwoK Wrote: Why the the cement so much lower than the top of the curbs? Can't quite figure out what's going on.

(10-01-2017, 09:45 PM)KevinL Wrote:

(10-01-2017, 07:51 PM)GtwoK Wrote: Why the the cement so much lower than the top of the curbs? Can't quite figure out what's going on.

I've seen this before - on King Street Downtown. Paving stones were (are!) arranged within the recessed area.

(10-03-2017, 07:26 AM)MidTowner Wrote: We were talking the other week about the ridiculous proposal for the Weber bridge over the Spur Line (thankfully not yet a done deal). I work in the area and have been driving a fair bit lately for work the last few weeks- the bridge has been reduced to one lane each direction, and I note that, at all times of the day, traffic is free flowing even with that restriction.

Others have noted that the traffic volumes just do not justify that many car lanes, but often people don't grasp that and think there's something special about a given road that will mean, if narrowed, it will experience serious backups or delays. It's hard to argue that for Weber: it's one lane each direction now, and if you drive there at 8:00 in the morning, noon, 5:00 in the afternoon, whenever, you'll find traffic moving along in excess of the speed limit.

(10-03-2017, 09:41 AM)JCnb Wrote:

(10-03-2017, 07:26 AM)MidTowner Wrote: We were talking the other week about the ridiculous proposal for the Weber bridge over the Spur Line (thankfully not yet a done deal). I work in the area and have been driving a fair bit lately for work the last few weeks- the bridge has been reduced to one lane each direction, and I note that, at all times of the day, traffic is free flowing even with that restriction.

Others have noted that the traffic volumes just do not justify that many car lanes, but often people don't grasp that and think there's something special about a given road that will mean, if narrowed, it will experience serious backups or delays. It's hard to argue that for Weber: it's one lane each direction now, and if you drive there at 8:00 in the morning, noon, 5:00 in the afternoon, whenever, you'll find traffic moving along in excess of the speed limit.

I can second this comment, I actually work on Dutton and morning / evening rush hour has never been an issue. The largest issue was back when Bearinger was closed for long periods during ION construction and traffic along Weber increased significantly.

(10-03-2017, 11:08 AM)tomh009 Wrote: If you put the bridge on a road diet, you really should do the same for the surrounding bits of Weber as well, otherwise you create a bottleneck with lanes disappearing and reappearing around the bridget.