Comments on: Huron & Chapin

By: Lyn Davidge

Lyn Davidge — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 01:26:43 +0000

Yes, it’s the passenger doing the running in my friend’s observations.

By: Donna Estabrook

Donna Estabrook — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 23:57:12 +0000

I walk cross Huron at Chapin often. It has occurred to me that it would not be too difficult for someone in a car to jump out and activate the HAWK, especially if there was a passenger who could do the jumping out. I have never seen it happen, but I guess it does.

By: Glacial Erratic

Glacial Erratic — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 20:33:29 +0000

#16: that’s fascinating! Definitely from the viewpoint of a cyclist using the road, hopping up to the button and pushing it makes sense, even if one then continues across on the street, and I have seen that cars take advantage when I do that (while still yielding to the bike if turning, which I appreciate), but I’ve never seen someone in a car initiate it. I’ve figured that cars could take advantage of gaps, because of speed, that bikes and pedestrians can’t, but now I’ll watch as maybe it suggests that a pressure-plate for cars to activate the signal would be useful, even if unlikely to happen for all the reasons noted involving the hassle of even getting the HAWK.

By: Lyn Davidge

Lyn Davidge — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 01:06:56 +0000

Another twist on the meaning of HAWK signals…. A resident of nearby Lurie Terrace told me that she regularly sees people hop out of cars stopped on Chapin, run over and push the HAWK button, and get back in the car in time to cross or turn onto Huron when cars are stopped. And not a pedestrian in sight.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 00:56:42 +0000

My feeling is, if you are confused, it’s best to stop.

By: Jim Rees

Jim Rees — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 21:51:18 +0000

The sequence is unusual. Motorists are not used to seeing a signal change from flashing yellow to solid yellow, and they are not used to seeing a double flashing red except maybe at a railroad crossing, where it means “stop.” I don’t know whether the double flashing red HAWK signal means “stop” like at a RR crossing, or means “stop then go” like a single flashing red at an ordinary signal.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:53:46 +0000

If Ruth feels confusion, there is confusion.

By: Donna Estabrook

Donna Estabrook — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:09:45 +0000

Although the flashing/solid yellow and red lights indicate standard traffic instructions to the driver, the sequence is unusual and so can be confusing. Since I rarely drive I don’t know what it is like to approach an activated HAWK signal in a car. It is unlikely for someone who usually drives – as opposed to walking, biking or taking the bus – to see the graphic instructions for HAWK use. You would have to look it up. Thank you, Eric, for the link.
This is a good example of the isolating nature of private car use.

By: Donna Estabrook

Donna Estabrook — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 13:52:01 +0000

As I understand it, Huron where it intersects with Chapin/3rd St is part of the state road system (94 business?). State law allows only a specified number of standard (i.e non-HAWK) traffic lights, or perhaps it is a certain distance between standard traffic lights, on that stretch. I don’t know if that is the case on Plymouth Road.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 13:00:19 +0000

@8: I don’t see any confusion about the HAWK signal here, only a difference in perspective between Ruth’s view as a pedestrian who doesn’t notice that the light above changes from red to flashing red and the accurate motorist perspective that Eric shared.