Menchaca bill would allow bikers to obey pedestrian signals
Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, who is an avid bike rider, has introduced a bill that would allow bicyclists to follow pedestrian control signals instead of the red/yellow/green signals controlling motor vehicle traffic.
Menchaca, who introduced his bill on Feb. 5, said that while pedestrian control signals are usually synchronized with signals controlling motor vehicles, there is a leading pedestrian interval (LPI) at some intersections which gives pedestrians a three to seven second head start when entering an intersection.
LPIs have been shown to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by as much as 60 percent, according to Menchaca, who said he wants the same safety protection for bike riders.
The new rule would not alter the fact that pedestrians have the right of way when cyclists are in motion, Menchaca said.