Caffeinated Politics

Madison’s latest flirtation with banning right‑on‑red turns is the kind of well‑intentioned civic tinkering that sounds good in a mayoral campaign literature piece. But this idea misunderstands how people actually move through Madison’s downtown streets, how drivers behave, and how pedestrians should behave.

Right‑on‑red is a logical, practical, efficient traffic valve that keeps intersections from clogging. Remove it, and you don’t get safer streets, but longer waits to turn, more idling, more frustrated drivers, and more people trying to “beat the light” at the next intersection, as they are not in the mood to wait even longer to get to their destination.

So, let’s talk about this idea to nix turning right-on-red.

The city is exploring whether to create a downtown zone where right turns on red would be prohibited, according to Assistant Director of Traffic Engineering Tom Mohr.

“The city has about 300 signalized intersections,” Mohr said. “We would be looking at a downtown zone that would be roughly 50 intersections.”

The proposal is still in the research phase, and city staff plan to return to the Transportation Commission later this year with more information. If approved, implementation would likely happen next year.

City leaders said the effort is part of Madison’s broader Vision Zero strategy, which focuses on reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries.

Mohr said crashes directly tied to right turns on red are relatively uncommon, but the city is still concerned about the conflicts those turns can create with pedestrians.

The real issue isn’t the turn. It’s the choreography of the whole process we should consider. Pedestrians in Madison often treat crosswalks like private woodland trails. Earbuds in, eyes down, thumbs scrolling, and oblivious to everything around them. I see this again and again as I travel through downtown Madison. I marvel at the lack of regard from some walkers for what is moving alongside them. They often seem not to recognize that the burden of awareness cannot fall solely on the driver who’s trying to make a legal turn while also deciphering whether the person drifting into the crosswalk is actually crossing or just looking for a better angle for their Instagram story.

A pedestrian who steps into traffic while wearing noise‑canceling earbuds should make every life-insurance agent crazy. Pulling out the earbuds, looking up, and listening to the world isn’t courteous to the driver. It’s sound, reasoned behavior for pedestrians.

Madison has tried over the decades to strike the right balance between bikes, walkers, buses, and cars, as they all negotiate space. Most folks here have a Midwestern sense of using the streets and roads. But politeness in that mix isn’t the same as passivity. Drivers need the ability to make reasonable, efficient turns. Pedestrians need to be present in their own bodies rather than lost in their gadgets. Everyone needs to remember that traffic safety is a duet, not a solo act. Hence, the need for choreography.