Coronado's Most Read Newspaper & Community Website

Pedestrian Crosswalk Lights: What are the Rules?

We all know that when the white human form appears, all may cross the street safely and legally. But when the orange hand appears and is blinking, does this mean take caution and yield to the oncoming cars that have already been granted with a green traffic light? I know that when the orange hand is solid, you don't dare step out into the road but I am seeing more and more pedestrians walking during the orange blinking hand, therefore traffic that does have the green light has to stop in the middle of an intersection and allow the pedestrian to continue their journey to the other side. If I were to slam on my brakes during a green light to allow a pedestrian who is crossing on a flashing orange hand, I risk getting hit from behind or honked at quite severely as well as that pedestrian yelling at me. Is the pedestrian at fault and considered to be jaywalking?

Tags: city of coronado, community

1 member likes this

Staff Comment by Kellee Hearther on September 17, 2012 at 9:25pm: I always thought that the flashing hand was like a yellow stop light...a warning that the time to cross is nearly over and if you haven't started crossing the street, you had better wait until the next "white human form". It doesn't make sense to me that the traffic would have a green while the red hand is blinking. Seems the red hand should be solid, giving the clear message that it is not safe for a pedestrian to cross. (while the light the oppositve way is green).

Comment by Narr ECoro on September 18, 2012 at 12:55pm

Well, there's definitely a problem with the timing of the lights.

All Coronado pedestrian lights that I'm familiar with in crossing Orange or intersections:

don't show the white walk light unless you have pressed the button earlier in the cycle
do go to red flashing as soon as you are only half way across the street. You have time to complete the crossing at a sensible pace if you don't stop because of the flashing.

This is very confusing to visitors, and upsetting to anyone not ready for a racing pace.

I presume the Orange Avenue signals are so annoying and insensible to pedestrians because (as I found by asking at the police office) they are actually run by the state, which considers Orange a highway.

I would suggest to the City Counsel that the settings on the lights need to change, whoever ends up in control of them.

There is at least one very dangerous pedistrian light in Coronado.

This is the one on the east side of Highway 75 where Strand Highway going north intersects Orange and splits to Pomona Avenue. If you are crossing Pomona as a pedestrian, you will get not even half way across when two things happen. The walk sign goes to flashing red as ever, but also, the Strand Highway automobile light goes to _green_!

Thus you have traffic at high speed (we know how the Pomona drivers often enough are) coming up _behind_ you, ready to whiz around the corner where you are a target, entirely dependent on their attention and best behavior to avoid getting hit.

It seems really asking for a pedestrian to get hurt, and I think this light needs to be changed without delay. Coronado has visitors, cyclists, and elderly often in that crosswalk, and really anyone is in danger.

A number of comments, I know. I'm a pedestrian, and you notice these things when you are. Also that the buttons aren't reliable in some locations, particularly the ones at 8th and Orange, right by the police station.

Comment by Narr ECoro on September 18, 2012 at 12:56pm: Apologies for the big letters - that seems to have happened when I used the dotted list.

Staff Comment by Kellee Hearther on September 18, 2012 at 1:14pm: Great observations! Thanks for sharing. Your insight may keep someone from getting injured.

Comment by MIKE GAPP on September 24, 2012 at 2:48pm: As a pedestrian, I can attest that Coronado is a near-suicidal experience when going on foot here.

The fault is usually a motorist is only looking to the left, to see if they can make a right turn. This occurs regardless of the condition that the pedestrian sign is in, IME.

The Pedestrian lights take forever to allow you to cross the street, and when they do turn on, they turn off too fast for a group of 5 to 10 people to cross the street unless they are walking in lock step. Try that with a couple baby carriers in the mix.

- The City has never done anything about this that I can perceive, so I expect leniency when it comes to J-Walking and other foot-traffic offense that are done in a responsible manner. It is safer to cross there than at either corner.

The aggressive LA/New York style of driving has become more prevalent here in town.

That noted, there are also a lot of courteous drivers that slow for pedestrians. I always give them a wave of thanks.

- J-Walking in a responsible manner is actually the safest thing to do here in town, since crossing at mid-streets is safer than crossing at intersections IME. Why the City got rid of that lovely crosswalk in mid-block straight in front of the Public Library is beyond me.

As for getting rear-ended - that doesn't happen when you keep your distances. Tap your brakes to shake tail-gaters. Pedestrians are no different road hazards than balls or children or cats running in front of you anywhere else (except you should be more aware at pedestrian crossings in my opinion), it's a non-issue to blame poor driving habits on.

Respectfully,

Mike Gapp