Leading Pedestrian Intervals: Increased Safety for Pedestrians and Cyclists
- Brenna Hall
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Turning onto my street after a short bike ride, I was surprised to see the flashing lights of a police car behind me. I wheeled my bike to the curb, and waited for the officer.
“Do you know why I pulled you over?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t,” I said. And I was in fact baffled. Maybe going 14mph in a 25 zone?
“You blew through that red light back there.”
I don’t run stop signs on quiet streets, let alone major intersections. And then I realized the confusion. “Ohhh, the walk sign had turned. I think it’s a fairly new law, but bikes can proceed when the walk sign is lit up for pedestrians in those few seconds before the traffic light turns green.”
I could see from his expression that he wasn’t buying it. I tried to explain that the point of that little gap was to give bikes and pedestrians a chance to make themselves visible to cars in the intersection before the light turns.
I’m not sure whether it was my assertion of innocence, or the fact that my 9 year old emerged from the house at that moment asking why the police were there – but the officer decided to let me go. At which point I immediately went inside to figure out if I had actually broken the law.
Good news! In January 2024 as a result of law AB 1909, SEC. 3. Section 21456 of the California Vehicle Code was amended to read:
“Except as otherwise directed by a bicycle control signal described in Section 21456.3, the operator of a bicycle facing a pedestrian control signal displaying a “WALK” or approved “Walking Person” symbol may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, but shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicles or pedestrians lawfully within the intersection.”
That means, when the walk signal is lit, bikes can proceed. I also learned that the 3-7 second gap before the traffic light turns is called a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI), and it saves lives. Data from 2009-2018 on LPIs in Seattle showed a 48% reduction in pedestrian turning collisions at intersections with LPIs installed.
Leading Pedestrian Intervals are important for bikes, just as they are for pedestrians, because they increase the visibility of more vulnerable road users. Green means go, and that is what drivers’ brains are programmed to do when that light changes, too often failing to register pedestrians waiting at the crosswalk or bikes in the bike lane. LPIs inject a few second head start for bikes and pedestrians to say “Hey! I’m here in the road, please don’t run me over.”
Before the officer left, he said I should reach out to the traffic safety division if I found the statute I had been trying (rather ineffectively) to describe. A few weeks later in response to my email about Leading Pedestrian Intervals, I got this response from the head of the Traffic Safety Unit:
“[...] I sent out a department wide training bulletin, explaining the rules set forth by AB 1909. I detailed all of the additions, explaining what the LPI was, and how it affects bicycle traffic. I am confident this training will suffice and our officers will be well versed on the changes within AB 1909.”
Pedestrians and cyclists: the next time the walk sign lights up, enjoy your tiny head start!
About the Author
Brenna Hall is a long-time Sunnyvale resident, former tech-worker, frequent cyclist, and parent of an elementary schooler and a middle schooler. In her free time she enjoys gravel cycling, painting, and hiking. She's an advocate of safe school routes for kids, and loves encouraging families to ride together!
