OP-ED: A Third Way On Traffic

I have been writing letters to city mayors going back to Giuliani saying the same exact thing -- that there should be a third cycle in the traffic lights in which all traffic cars etc. are at a standstill and pedestrians can cross the street safely.

The city traffic lights were, in fact, installed incorrectly because they do not provide a safe crossing for pedestrians when they have the walk sign. New Orleans is an example of a city with a three-cycle traffic light system and traffic probably moves more efficiently there than in New York.

Once, my letter was forwarded to the Department of Transportation and I had a long discussion with some manager and I could not convince him of the values of introducing a third cycle. He maintained it will slow down traffic, but in fact it would speed up traffic because during rush hours and the noon hour, when pedestrians are dominating the crosswalks, cars attempting to turn to the left or right are held up by the pedestrians and cars in the turning lane stack up. This causes other cars to have to shift lanes to get through the intersection causing more traffic delays.

I estimate that around 100 lives would be saved each year if the city were to institute the third cycle in their traffic light system. How do we convince the mayor?

Pete Drexler, Croton-on-Hudson, New York