diff --git a/geom/src/pt.rs b/geom/src/pt.rs
index fb5f2651a3..2bbfc2a5a6 100644
--- a/geom/src/pt.rs
+++ b/geom/src/pt.rs
@@ -66,11 +66,8 @@ impl Pt2D {
         self.y
     }
 
-    // TODO better name
+    /// If distance is negative, this projects a point in theta.opposite()
     pub fn project_away(self, dist: Distance, theta: Angle) -> Pt2D {
-        // If negative, caller should use theta.opposite()
-        assert!(dist >= Distance::ZERO);
-
         let (sin, cos) = theta.normalized_radians().sin_cos();
         Pt2D::new(
             self.x() + dist.inner_meters() * cos,
diff --git a/sim/src/mechanics/walking.rs b/sim/src/mechanics/walking.rs
index 0bb7114a38..f28a50f92c 100644
--- a/sim/src/mechanics/walking.rs
+++ b/sim/src/mechanics/walking.rs
@@ -721,7 +721,13 @@ impl Pedestrian {
         } else {
             270.0
         };
+        let project_away = match on {
+            Traversable::Lane(l) => map.get_l(l).width / 2.0 - pedestrian_body_radius(),
+            // Width of a crossing is fuzzy, but this could likely be improved
+            Traversable::Turn(_) => pedestrian_body_radius(),
+        };
         let mut intent = None;
+
         let (pos, facing) = match self.state {
             PedState::Crossing {
                 ref dist_int,
@@ -746,7 +752,7 @@ impl Pedestrian {
                     intent = Some(Intent::SteepUphill);
                 }
                 (
-                    pos.project_away(pedestrian_body_radius(), facing.rotate_degs(angle_offset)),
+                    pos.project_away(project_away, facing.rotate_degs(angle_offset)),
                     facing,
                 )
             }
@@ -758,7 +764,7 @@ impl Pedestrian {
                     orig_angle
                 };
                 (
-                    pos.project_away(pedestrian_body_radius(), facing.rotate_degs(angle_offset)),
+                    pos.project_away(project_away, facing.rotate_degs(angle_offset)),
                     facing,
                 )
             }
@@ -812,7 +818,7 @@ impl Pedestrian {
                 let (pt, angle) = self.goal.sidewalk_pos.pt_and_angle(map);
                 // Stand on the far side of the sidewalk (by the bus stop), facing the road
                 (
-                    pt.project_away(pedestrian_body_radius(), angle.rotate_degs(angle_offset)),
+                    pt.project_away(project_away, angle.rotate_degs(angle_offset)),
                     angle.rotate_degs(-angle_offset),
                 )
             }