The City Council recently unanimously voted to give pedestrians the right of way during count down clocks. Now they’re back trying to decrease the competition between cars and bikes at intersections.

In many New York City intersections there is a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI).  This starts the pedestrian signal a few seconds before drivers get the green light.  According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, this decreases pedestrian-vehicle collisions as much as 60%.  Some intersections also have Lagging Pedestrian Intervals which allow pedestrians slightly more crossing time after drivers are given a red light.

In 2013 Washington DC passed legislation allowing cyclists to follow the Leading Pedestrian Interval.  This decreases confusion between drivers and cyclists when the light turns green.  It also brings cyclists out of a driver’s blind spot so they can be seen easier.

New York City’s proposed bill states:

This bill would establish that bicyclists crossing a roadway at an intersection must follow pedestrian control signals when local law, rule or regulation provides that those signals supersede traffic control signals. However, bicyclists will be required to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

To see this in action, Brooklyn Spoke has some great videos.  As always, contact your local elected officials to make sure our streets are safe for all road users.