A very bad experience with RRFBs
Today, when I was cycling home, I crossed the street on a signed and painted crossride that also has green conflict paint. While I usually find driver compliance to be very good at these crossrides, today's interaction diminished my confidence in our infrastructure.
My crossing technique is to slow down and conspicuously look as I approach the crossing (while turning, if applicable), being able to stop outside the conflict zone but showing intent to continue rather than making a complete stop. I don't activate RRFBs, not only to avoid the touch surface, but because activating them can be clunky and prolong the crossing process. More importantly, they undermine the right of way signed crossrides exist to provide, and that's the issue I ran into today.
As I approached the crossing, I saw a taxi that didn't appear to be yielding. I stopped and watched them drive by, as the driver said "bro you have to press it", obviously referring to the RRFB button.
Having your right of way ignored due to a misunderstanding of how our infrastructure works is frustrating. Knowing the law doesn't take a clear side on this, making it impossible to argue for your case on laws alone, is something else entirely.
Some people believe that flashing lights remove the right of way of bicycles (if not activated), but not pedestrians, at a crossing. I have had many interactions with people at these crossings, including conversations, that confirm these views, even though compliance is reasonable overall when using my technique. (Other users with a more timid approach may find it glacial to request a yield without activating the lights.)
Despite the many conversations I've had about them, it remains unclear how RRFBs affect right of way. One thing I learned at ITE Canada 2026 is that many engineers treat pedestrians crossing without 'pressing the button' like an infraction, and yet, the presence of an RRFB alongside a conventional crosswalk or crossride sign is not nearly distinctive enough to suggest that a motorist's obligations have changed - not that the MVA recognises crossrides yet.
This is a short and incomplete post on RRFBs, prompted by my experience. I will have more to say in the future, detailing issues that RRFB installations typically create regarding overall efficiency, sightlines and safe driving, and the many ways we can address this.