Protected intersection

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a crosswalk where people crank their necks to see if there are cars coming before crossing the street? Well, sometimes it can be hard for drivers to see pedestrians when they're trying to cross the street. That's why some cities are using something called a "protected intersection" to make it safer.

A protected intersection is a special type of intersection where cars, bikes, and pedestrians have their own separate places to be. It's like a special dance floor where everyone knows their own spot and can move around safely without bumping into each other.

Let me explain how it works. When a pedestrian wants to cross the road, they go to the corner where the crosswalk is painted on the ground. Instead of walking straight across the street, they turn a corner to go around a little island in the middle of the intersection. This island is called a "pedestrian refuge." When they get to the other side of the refuge, they turn another corner to finish crossing the street.

Meanwhile, the bikes have their own lanes that are separated from the cars and the pedestrians. The bike lane is sort of like a little road for bikes. It's usually made of a different material than the regular road and is painted a different color so that cars know not to drive in it.

Finally, the cars have their own turning lanes that are separated from the bikes and pedestrians. When a car wants to turn, they have to slow down and wait for the bikes and pedestrians to pass by before they turn. This way, everyone can stay safe and not get in each other's way.

So, that's a protected intersection in a nutshell! It's a special kind of intersection that keeps everyone safe by giving them their own separate places to be.