This morning, I noticed that the sidepath users get an LPI at this side street, so we get a 5-second head start on the traffic that's running parallel to us on the stroad.

BUT only the traffic on the near side of the stroad is held; the traffic on the FAR side, from whence the left turners come, gets green the exact moment the sidepath users get the walk signal.

Here's the site, for context

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.9062544,-79.0189305,99m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

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The map linked above shows the stroad running roughly east/west. The sidepath is on the south side of the stroad. The side street in question comes in from the south.

Just before the LPI, the sidepath users have a don't walk signal and the people turning left from the stroad to the side street have a green arrow. Fair.

But the exact instant the walk signal comes on for the stroad users, the green arrow switches to permissive yellow. This sucks but is standard practice in #NorthCarolina

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But oncoming (eastbound) stroad traffic still has a red light (hence the "LPI")!

So, imagine a cyclist (say it's me) riding west on the sidepath, approaching the intersection as the walk signal comes on. Yay, I get to carry on pedalling!

At the same instant, the driver at the front of the left turn lane sees their green arrow turn to permissive yellow. And we all know that yellow doesn't mean proceed with caution, but GUN it!!!!!
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Eastbound stroad traffic is still being held with a red light, mind you. So even though left turners no longer have a green arrow, the still have 5 seconds of a protected phase...the same 5 seconds that is *supposed* to be the sidepath users' LPI.

Now I'm savvy enough to not trust this particular intersection any farther than I can throw it, so when I saw my light change to 'go' I checked to see what signal the left turners see, and instantly realized what was about to happen. 5/

And predictably saw a motorist taking advantage of the fact that on-coming eastbound traffic wasn't moving yet, and gunning it through the intersection directly in to the sidepath crossing....where I would have been were I not a keen observer of effed-up traffic signal phasings.

So, here, finally, dear readers, is my question:

***How common it is to have a permissive yellow left turn concurrent with an LPI on a sidepath?***

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#VisionZero #VisionMillion

When bringing up issues with signal phasings along this sidepath in the past, I have been told that sidepath users should stop first before proceeding, in spite of what the signal says.

This is, of course, in direct conflict with MUTCD guidance, which says that signalized intersections must not also include stop signs, as the user is expected to obey the highest order of instruction presented (i.e., traffic signal >>> stop sign).

It's also in direct conflict with common sense.

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This MUTCD guidance is, of course, treated as gospel when it comes to car traffic. When you are driving, green means go.

When you are using any other mode, however, green (or walk signal equivalent) means:

1. stop

2. check your surroundings in three different directions on-coming motorists who have been shown green, flashing yellow, or a red that they are lawfully allowed to proceed on despite it being red

3. proceed if you dare, but keep your head on a swivel

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