Hike, bike trail signs confuse motorists
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The lights from passing vehicles streak across Miori Lane at night. A caution sign located at the new hike and bike trail built along Lone Tree Creek has caught the interest of pedestrians and vehicle drivers alike. The graphic showing a yield sign, a figure and bicycle icon, and arrow has some people wondering exactly what the sign means.
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To submit questions, e-mail watchdog@vicad.com, post them to the "Watchdog" blog or call Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza at 361-580-6519. No topic is off-limits.
Some people think the signs prompt motorists to yield to trail users. Others think the signs mean bicyclists must stop for pedestrians.
Bill Doyle thinks the signs need replacing.
"They're misleading," the 73-year-old said. "I thought, 'What in the world are they trying to accomplish - some sort of secret code or something?'"
For all the excitement the city's new hike-and-bike trail drums, the four crosswalks seem to numb a bit of the runner's high.
The buzz kill stems from confusion over who has the right-of-way at crossings, and ambiguous signs many motorists can't decipher.
Doyle uses Miori Lane as his main route. The road takes him in his car through one of four trail crosswalks. The retired public schools worker worries about the foot traffic, he said.
"If anybody gets hurt, the trail users are going to get hurt," Doyle said. "When you're traveling in a car at a good rate of speed, you don't have very long to scan something and get the message. I looked hard. I don't get any great meaning out of those signs."
The signs in question face motorists on Miori Lane and the other three trail crossings.
The signs portray a small yield marker, a bicycle, a pedestrian, an arrow and the words, "Here" and "To." This jumbled mix appears to be the crux of confusion.
As confusing as the signs may be, each meets state requirements and is recommended for this unique crosswalk by federal guidelines, said Ken Gill, a city engineer.
To learn the legal explanations for these signs and the coinciding right-of-way issues, Google:
"Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2003, markings." Then, click the top Google link. Once at the site, click the "Chapter 2B" link, which details regulatory signs. Scroll to the bottom to find the sign.
"Texas Transportation Code, section 552.003."
In layman's terms, the signs are designed to alert motorists that the hike-and-bike trail nears. If a pedestrian or bicyclist is in the road, then motorists must stop. Otherwise, pedestrians must yield to motorists, who have the right-of-way.
Rights-of-way exist here as such because the crosswalks lack a stoplight and a stop sign, the city engineer said.
"I think what's confusing people is it's a first," Gill said. "This is new to Victoria, Texas. This is not new to other cities that have hike-and-bike trails. It's not something we dreamed up. We went to something that's standardized to the country and recognized by the traffic control and safety community."
Trail users should look both ways just like they would before crossing any other street, Gill said. Even though motorists have the right-of-way in most cases, drivers should approach crosswalks with caution, too, he added.
The city will move the signs this week from the flasher posts to between 20 and 50 feet from the crosswalks to give motorists advanced warning.
Trail users who push the flasher button to cross notice the following sign, which is attached to the pole at the crosswalk: "Traffic does not stop when flashers activated." The flashers give motorists additional warning that people are at the crosswalks, Gill said.
Some fear the yellow flashers and new signs might give trail users a false sense of security. After all, motorists are not required to stop for people waiting at the crosswalks.
Doyle, the frustrated motorist, thinks he has the answer.
"I learned a big lesson a long time ago: If you don't have a solution, why make an issue out of something? In this case, I have a solution," Doyle said. "They ought to go back and repaint those signs and turn them facing the trails. 'Trail users must yield to vehicles,' the sign should say. That's simple. That's all anyone needs to know."
Watchdog is a column by Advocate Public Service Editor Gabe Semenza. It appears every two weeks. Contact him at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com, or comment on this story at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Comments
Ken Gill, Victoria PD, please observe the fruits of your bogus information.
July 11, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.these signs should be revised to state
July 11, 2009 at 11:12 a.m."caution pedestrian crossing"
then on the trail walk side inform the citizens that
' yield to oncoming vehicle's'
this must be treated as if it were a crosswalk like the one's around the schools
or a crossing's at an unlighted intersection
18 (now19) comments on this one of several threads about hike and bike trail roadway crossings......geez.
If your walking or biking, wait until you have enough time to cross safely.
If your driving slow or stop for people already crossing, But be aware of the crossing and expect the unexpected.
Now that's not that hard is it?
Defensive driving, walking or biking, don't ya know, good advice anywhere in Victoria.
There will always be a person, either walking, biking or driving, that will do the exact opposite of what a walker, biker or driver thinks they will. ( Drive by the MHS campus at the time school lets out).
July 9, 2009 at 6:20 p.m.Wisp..."In other words, the RULE (I'm not shouting, I just don't know how to enable html for italics in here) is that vehicles need to approach the crosswalk anticipating foot traffic, prepared to stop. The EXCEPTION to the rule is the pedestrian who finds himself at the crosswalk's edge waiting for the car to pass because it didn't have the ability to stop in time."
That's what I've been saying all along. If the pedestrian gets into the crosswalk, the car will yield. If the pedestrian tries to enforce the state law by entering the crosswalk too late, don't expect the laws of physics to be repealed for him.
July 9, 2009 at 5:31 p.m.Yes, the city should have a bicycle or foot cop stationed at both HEBs and Walmart all day long writing tickets like a fiend. It is nothing but defiance on the part of drivers in HEB, for instance, where the crosswalks have multiple signs eliminating the guess work (i.e. "Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalk" or some such.) The city could make a killing until, ideally, the bullies got the picture. Of course, poor old Randy Redneck would have to wait an extra three seconds with his monster truck idling, but I think, in time, he'd adapt.
July 9, 2009 at 5:24 p.m.I am going to keep my transportation code book thingy next to me on my seat while driving. So, when I see a walker/jogger, I will put down my cellphone that I was texting on and verify who is to yield.
July 9, 2009 at 3:54 p.m.A simple paraphrase of the Texas Transportation Code, Section 552.003 would be this:
"At a crosswalk, like the one on Miori Lane, cars are obliged to yield to pedestrians. But pedestrians, even though you have the right of way, observe the laws of physics: if the car is too close to stop in time, don't be idealistic and jump out in front of it."
In other words, the RULE (I'm not shouting, I just don't know how to enable html for italics in here) is that vehicles need to approach the crosswalk anticipating foot traffic, prepared to stop. The EXCEPTION to the rule is the pedestrian who finds himself at the crosswalk's edge waiting for the car to pass because it didn't have the ability to stop in time.
For an example, let's say a bike comes cruising out of the woods quickly approaching the road (where the crosswalk is), so quickly that the car is, by this point, ten or so feet away from it while traveling at the posted speed limit of 40 mph. The biker would be foolish to expect observance of Sec 552.003-a, when physics now dictates that he observe Sec 552.003-b.
July 9, 2009 at 3:52 p.m.WispofTow..."are you that daft to think that anyone here is endorsing jumping out in front of cars that don't have time to stop?"
That's EXACTLY what I thought PurlpeD was advocating....that walkers, joggers, riders ALWAYS have the right of way at a marked crosswalk. If that wasn't what he meant, perhaps you could enlighten me -- I mean, since I'm daft and all.
July 9, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.waywardwind, seriously, are you that daft to think that anyone here is endorsing jumping out in front of cars that don't have time to stop? Man, grow up and have a grown up's discussion.
July 9, 2009 at 1:42 p.m.The trouble with that, PurpleD, is that the person who does get out and see the world is then forced to face a terrible truth: His asinine way of doing things is not -- contrary to what he's been telling himself for decades -- the best way, or even a good way to do them. You might not be aware of it, but Victoria is quite dim-witted.
July 9, 2009 at 12:46 p.m.Purple..."Get out of Victoria, get out of Texas, get out of US for goodness' sake and see how civilized world works."
Anywhere in the world, if you're stupid enough to walk in front of a car goining 40MPH, you're liable to get killed. Now, I don't want to hit anyone who is walking or riding a bike. It dents dents fenders and ruins the paint. If I'm driving along and you're IN the crosswalk, I'll slow down till you clear, but if you're on the sidewalk and walk out in front of me and I don't have time or distance to stop, you're gonna get clobbered.
July 9, 2009 at 12:27 p.m.It makes one wonder how people manage to survive from day to day crossing any street. It isn't brain surgery. Pretty soon it will look like a railroad crossing with crossing arms, redlights, audible alarms and who knows what else. Come on!
July 9, 2009 at 12:08 p.m.My husband and I were traveling down John Stockbauer last night after dark, and were discussing the crosswalk signs as we approached the trail crossing. I slowed as we looked at the sign, and suddenly realized that a dark skinned person wearing black clothing was crossing in front of us. Fortunately I was able to stop in time. All we could see were the white shoes. The lighting is way insufficient!!!!!! Also, people walking after dark should realize that their clothing needs to be more visible to motorists. This was scarey and we were aware of the crossing and watching. Fast moving bikes could be in the intersection before you know it.
This trail is a wonderful addition to Victoria and I'm very glad that we have something so nice here. There does need to be more lighting at the crossings, and pedestrians and bikers need to not just think the cars will always stop.
I'm very afraid that someone will be hurt or worse.
July 9, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.Thank goodness we have a city government that looks out for us knowing we don't know how to cross a street. I've stepped out in the middle streets many times and the screeching noise a car makes is unbearable when I want to cross a street when and where I want. Cars should be banned from the streets.
my god.
July 9, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.This could be fixed with 2 signs.
Sign 1 faces the motorists and says "Yield to Pedestrians IN the Crosswalk"
Sign two faces the trail and says "Cross Traffic does not Stop"
Both are existing signs people are already accustomed to.
July 9, 2009 at 11:09 a.m.Put up the automatic arms like the railroad uses for the automobiles and the pedestrians. Just a stupid idea to go along with the yield sign idea. TAKE THE SIGNS DOWN!
July 9, 2009 at 10:23 a.m.I guess its too much to ask people to use their common everyday sense about how to cross the street.....they have to be told how to do it.....
July 9, 2009 at 9:11 a.m.Sorry, but WHO is this Bill Doyle and why is his opinion taken as the truth?!
The sign is irrelevant and a crosswalk beats a stupid sign. If you want pedestrians to get the idea (i.e. that they don't have the right of way) take the crosswalk away!
Get out of Victoria, get out of Texas, get out of US for goodness' sake and see how civilized world works.
July 9, 2009 at 7:56 a.m.Ooops forgot one thing...Add another sign for the other stupid people that says "If you let your kids or pets walk, run, or bike in front of a moving vehicle, it may kill them too".
July 9, 2009 at 6:38 a.m.How about a big sign for the trail users that say's, "You do NOT have the right of way, if you walk, bike or run in front of a moving vehicle it may kill you".
Come on people, it's an open road, not an intersection. The trail users do not have the right of way.
July 9, 2009 at 6:35 a.m.