We've explained in Strategies and in Signalized Traffic Patterns that crossing with the surge of near-lane-parallel traffic is the most reliable cue indicating that there is not a protected turn signal allowing traffic to cross your crosswalk.
Many people have misconceptions and/or are confused about what "near-lane-parallel traffic" means, so this page will explain and illustrate it. When you think you understand correctly, you can go to the quiz and test yourself. Have fun!
What is Near-Lane Parallel traffic?
- Basically, near-lane-parallel traffic is the traffic in the parallel street that is traveling straight through the intersection in the lanes closest to the crosswalk that you are using to cross the street, as shown in the illustrations below.
There may be traffic in those lanes that is turning right or left, but the cue to focus on is the straight-through traffic.
That traffic may be going the same direction as you are, or may be coming toward you.
There may be more than one lane of traffic making that movement and there also may be a right-turn lane between you and that traffic.
Left above: For pedestrians crossing in the West crosswalk (that is, from NW to SW corner and vice versa), near-lane parallel vehicles are those that are traveling south on the west side of the street.
Right above: For pedestrians crossing along the east side of the street (that is, from NE to SE corner and vice versa), near-lane parallel vehicles are those that are traveling north on the east side of the street.
When the parallel street is on your left (as it is in the illustration here), the surge of that near-lane-parallel traffic will be very close to you on your left (and slightly behind you).
When the parallel street is on your right (as it is in the illustration here), the surge of that near-lane-parallel traffic is actually in front of you (and slightly to your right) on the other side of your perpendicular street.
What Near-Lane Parallel traffic is NOT
Remember, we are talking about the traffic in the nearest LANES of the parallel street, not the nearest TRAFFIC.
This can be very confusing when the parallel street is on your right and the perpendicular street is wide, as shown to the left. In this situation, the near-lane-parallel traffic is actually waiting further from you than traffic that is in the lanes of the far side of the parallel street!
