(no subject)

[blue_lotus13]

Dear Vancouverites,

What are those flashing green lights for? I am forever confused by them. The parentals will be driving around here on the first weekend of June, and Mom wants to know how she should deal with them.

Comments

[morag-gunn.livejournal.com]

A flashing green light is a pedestrian controlled intersection. It is NOT an advanced left turn as it is in many provinces.

An intersection with a flashing green light is effectively a crosswalk. It won't change unless a pedestrian or cyclist presses the button.

[pescana.livejournal.com]

But some of the lights flash when they change, don't they? Or are you speaking of a different kind of flashing green light?

The ones in Port Coquitlam flash to indicate the light is changing, it seems. That's what my PoCo friends said when I asked. It's like it goes from green to flashing green to yellow to red. This may only apply to turn arrow lights though.

[morag-gunn.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about the flashing yellow and red. I haven't seen them in Vancouver before. I try to avoid Po/Co as much as possible. :) But your friend, if he/she drives, would know.

Oh wait, flashing arrows? A flashing arrow means you can turn. If it's yellow it means "caution" and stop if you can. If it's red it means you can't turn (even if the non-arrow light is green).

[pescana.livejournal.com]

Just the flashing green arrows, not flashing red or yellow (haven't seen that). So your second paragraph is what I thought. I never understood why the arrows had to flash, or if there are arrows that don't flash up there like there are down here..

[bidetofevil.livejournal.com]

flashing yellow means "proceed with caution" -- i.e. same as a green, but you should check the intersection to make sure no one is turning into it... flashing reds means stop before entering, basically the same as a stop sign

[mirabillia.livejournal.com]

i always thought it meant advanced left turn. i guess i have some research to do before starting my west coast stint.

[bidetofevil.livejournal.com]

a flashing green is the same as a regular green except that it won't turn yellow (then red) unless a pedestrian hits the "i want to cross the street" button... treat them as you would a regular green