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As I noted below (likely going to be voted down for being uncool even if accurate), just painting crosswalks may significantly increase pedestrian risk by attra

As I noted below (likely going to be voted down for being uncool even if accurate), just painting crosswalks may significantly increase pedestrian risk by attracting crossings to dangerous intersections. So don't get too energized. Most real efforts here include OTHER steps to calm traffic, and then a painted cross-walk is added to attract pedestrians to that area. I hope Boston is doing more than just slapping crosswalks down with paint on high speed multi-lane roads - because people will be killed. Reducing lanes of traffic where peds cross, slowing traffic (stop signs, lights, speed limits with enforcement) all are much better starting point.

indecisive_user 4y ago
Sample size of 1 here, but the existence of a crosswalk definitely makes me slow down and pay more attention, because I generally assume if an intersection doesn't have a crosswalk then there's probably not any pedestrians crossing. This is especially true when turning right at a yield sign, e.g. https://drivinginstructorblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/intersection_Yield.jpg https://drivinginstructorblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06...
- ghaff 4y ago
  I think that's fair, especially if there are some other indicators in addition to just the paint. In Cambridge MA there are some otherwise uncontrolled crosswalks across Mass Ave and, as a driver, I'm definitely a bit more prepared for there to be a pedestrian at that location compared to darting across a random stretch of busy road (though that happens too all the time and I keep my eyes out). That said, as a pedestrian, I don't really trust a driver to see me especially in lower visibility so I generally won't cross at those locations unless I have plenty of opening.
- onphonenow 4y ago
  Right, and one piece is normally to reinforce that feeling by selecting crossings that actually DO get pedestrian traffic (normally 20 / hour for any one hour or at least 60 over some combination of 4 potentially non consecutive hours). What happens when you splatter crosswalk everywhere is they lose some of their subconscious meaning because you de-link them from actual pedestrian use potentially.

indecisive_user 4y ago

Sample size of 1 here, but the existence of a crosswalk definitely makes me slow down and pay more attention, because I generally assume if an intersection doesn't have a crosswalk then there's probably not any pedestrians crossing. This is especially true when turning right at a yield sign, e.g. https://drivinginstructorblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/intersection_Yield.jpg https://drivinginstructorblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06...

ghaff 4y ago
I think that's fair, especially if there are some other indicators in addition to just the paint. In Cambridge MA there are some otherwise uncontrolled crosswalks across Mass Ave and, as a driver, I'm definitely a bit more prepared for there to be a pedestrian at that location compared to darting across a random stretch of busy road (though that happens too all the time and I keep my eyes out). That said, as a pedestrian, I don't really trust a driver to see me especially in lower visibility so I generally won't cross at those locations unless I have plenty of opening.
onphonenow 4y ago
Right, and one piece is normally to reinforce that feeling by selecting crossings that actually DO get pedestrian traffic (normally 20 / hour for any one hour or at least 60 over some combination of 4 potentially non consecutive hours). What happens when you splatter crosswalk everywhere is they lose some of their subconscious meaning because you de-link them from actual pedestrian use potentially.