Feb. 17. The Town of Davidson will activate four new HAWK signals at the Circles@30 soon.
In support of the town’s increased focus on pedestrian safety and the newly adopted Vision Zero initiative, these HAWK signals will help provide residents and visitors with safer crossing options at particularly busy intersections near the roundabouts and I-77. HAWK projects are supported by General Obligation bond dollars.
The signals nearest to Davidson Day School and Harris Teeter, as well another near the Harris Teeter Gas Station and Two Harbour Place, should be completed before the end of February, while the signals on Griffith Street and Davidson Gateway/Harbour Place Drive near the Davidson Clinic and Homewood Suites, and near the RushCo and One Harbor Place, should be completed in mid-March.
HAWK (High-Intensity Activated CrossWalK) signals provide safer crossing alternatives for people walking and biking than traditional crosswalks, especially in mid-block locations with heavy demand.
Because the devices are only activated when walkers or bikers are present, people driving only experience minimal delays. HAWK signals can also be installed at the intersection of an arterial road with smaller side streets, which would not otherwise warrant a traffic light signalized crossing.
I think these are a great boost for pedestrian safety and there are likely many locations around here that could use them. My problem is the mention of people Biking. Bikes are NOT pedestrians and should follow the rules of the road. I have had people on bikes at crosswalks, offer me a common salute because apparently I did not stop for them. The crosswalk law applies to pedestrians, not bikers. If a biker is ‘Standing’ with their bike at a crosswalk I always stop. If they are in the saddle I do not. The should actually be on the cross street.
Unless the rules have changed, or they do, I do not plan on altering my behavior. The problem is that the HAWK signals won’t be able to distinguish between pedestrians and bikers. When the lights start flashing either will cross.
I could go on about this but I think I made my point. Obviously now motorists will need to watch for bikers using crosswalks. Unless they are riding on the sidewalk I don’t see the need for bikers to even use a crosswalk.