OK, so what;s with the blinking

[Brettski]

Green traffic lights in Boston....I know what a blinking yellow or red light means

But what the hell does a blinking green light mean?

If you can drive in Boston, you can drive anywhere in the world

I mean do they even make you take a driver's test up there?

 

[severine]

My Dad always said that all roads in Boston lead to nowhere. There is no plan, no rhyme or reason to them.

I have no idea what a blinking green light is. Don't recall that one being on my driver's test. But I do agree that if you can drive in Boston, you can drive anywhere.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

It blinks to tell the drivers that the signal light is about to change, kinda like a yellow light but with more time to know when the light is going to turn, and i believe it is only activated by pedestrians who hit the button on the sidewalk.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

One possible explanation:

"Motorists are reminded that a Flashing Green Light indicates a Pedestrian Controlled Traffic Signal. Once this device is actuated the Flashing Green Light will turn solid for 4 to 5 seconds followed by an Amber then Red Light. The solid Green Light at a Pedestrian Traffic Signal therefore serves as an advance warning to the driver that the signal is about to change. Motorists are also reminded that it is illegal to proceed through a Red Light and must wait until the signal resumes its Flashing Green sequence."​

Here's another one:

"In British Columbia and and a few U.S. states, a flashing green signal is used at a pedestrian crossing, at which pedestrians have the ability to stop traffic to allow a safe crossing. They may also be used at a drawbridge. The flashing green indicates that the signal is not currently in use. As soon as a pedestrian pushes the button to trigger the signal, the light changes to solid green for a short time before entering the normal yellow/red/green sequence, then returns to flashing green until another crossing is requested; however, in some places such as Vancouver, it goes directly from flashing green to yellow, leaving out the solid green sequence. In Massachusetts, specifically in Cambridge and Somerville, the main street will have a flashing green signal, while cross streets have a signal that have a red on top, yellow in the middle and flashing red in the bottom position. When a pedestrian activates the signal, the cross street changes from flashing red in the lowest position to yellow to red (topmost position)."​

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

It's nuts that the default is blinking green and when a pedestrian hits a button it shifts to solid green for 4-5 seconds and then yellow....

Why not directly to yellow from blinking green?

Is the idea that you have 4-5 seconds to accelerate and make the intersection before the yellow light comes up?

Strange.

 

[wa-loaf]

My Dad always said that all roads in Boston lead to nowhere. There is no plan, no rhyme or reason to them.

The streets follow the old cow paths. That's why the just kinda meander around. I think it's more interesting than a planned grid pattern. The lack of good traffic signs is what really gets the tourist messed up. Random detours and construction sites are there to mess with the locals. :lol:

 

[wa-loaf]

Is the idea that you have 4-5 seconds to accelerate and make the intersection before the yellow light comes up?

Strange.

I like it in Germany where the light goes from red to yellow to green. The yellow gives you time to rev the engine and take off! :grin:

 

[Paul]

Its a warning that there's one of these nearby...

 

[ctenidae]

Is the idea that you have 4-5 seconds to accelerate and make the intersection before the yellow light comes up?

Yes.

 

[Paul]