Time to bring back Zebras
 

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

Many of us have always thought so.

It is hard to see the advantages of pelicon crossings (except maybe in a
few very crowded city centre streets). It is certainly very difficult to
see any advantages in them in suburban locations. There must be at least
one ulterior motive for their installation over the past four decades or so.

And as we all know, even if some won't admit it, it's not as though
cyclists take any notice of either sort of pedestrian priority on either
sort of crossing.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 18:34:59 UTC+1, JNugent wrote:
On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

Many of us have always thought so.

It is hard to see the advantages of pelicon crossings (except maybe in a
few very crowded city centre streets). It is certainly very difficult to
see any advantages in them in suburban locations. There must be at least
one ulterior motive for their installation over the past four decades or so.

And as we all know, even if some won't admit it, it's not as though
cyclists take any notice of either sort of pedestrian priority on either
sort of crossing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-54OpEwE0w

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:45:25 PM UTC+1, Mike Collins wrote:
Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

They should do what they do in many European countries and have countdown timers that tell pedestrians how long at green they have left, though in many Balkan countries, drivers treat such crossing with indifference and ignore zebras at will. Police turn a blind eye to the criminals in most cases.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social
distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

The reason for traffic lights would have been that moronists had a
pattern of not giving way on zebras.

We also made a rule in 1934 that zebras have to have a flashing beacon
(for what modern day purpose?) so instead of spending a few pounds for
some paint and a sign (at places where people actually cross, as in
civilised countries), they can only go where there is easy access to
electricity. So I guess there isn't much difference in cost between the two.

The big bugbear of light controlled crossings is that no matter how long
it was since the previous change, there is an irritating delay after
pressing the button. Even in the days when traffic lights were
controlled by mechanical logic it would have been a trivial issue to get
right.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

TMS320 wrote:

The big bugbear of light controlled crossings is that no matter how long
it was since the previous change, there is an irritating delay after
pressing the button.

....and that irritating delay can sometimes be so long that the who
ever who pushed the button gets an opportunity to cross the road
before any light change occurs (or they push the button unnecessarily
even though finding the road clear to cross anyway). Consequently
there is no pedestrian waiting to cross when the lights do signal all
traffic to stop - sometimes it's even like approaching a ghostly
apparition: a crossing with lights indicating pedestrians can cross
but there's no one in sight who could possibly wish to do so.

Even in the days when traffic lights were controlled by mechanical logic it
would have been a trivial issue to get right.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On 27/05/2020 09:28, TMS320 wrote:
On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social
distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/


Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

The reason for traffic lights would have been that moronists had a
pattern of not giving way on zebras.

They still display the same pattern of behaviour, failing to stop their
bicycles at pedestrian crossings (of any sort) and often screaming
obscenities at pedestrians with the temerity to try to cross when and
where they have priority.

But thanks for admitting it.

We also made a rule in 1934 that zebras have to have a flashing beacon
(for what modern day purpose?) so instead of spending a few pounds for
some paint and a sign (at places where people actually cross, as in
civilised countries), they can only go where there is easy access to
electricity. So I guess there isn't much difference in cost between the
two.

The big bugbear of light controlled crossings is that no matter how long
it was since the previous change, there is an irritating delay after
pressing the button. Even in the days when traffic lights were
controlled by mechanical logic it would have been a trivial issue to get
right.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 9:28:29 AM UTC+1, TMS320 wrote:
On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social
distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

The reason for traffic lights would have been that moronists had a
pattern of not giving way on zebras.

I often walk out onto zebras and encounter drivers who just play a game of chicken with you, often with horns blaring at having the gall to impede their speeding cages.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

Simon Mason wrote:
On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 9:28:29 AM UTC+1, TMS320 wrote:
On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social
distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/

Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

The reason for traffic lights would have been that moronists had a
pattern of not giving way on zebras.

I often walk out onto zebras and encounter drivers who just play a
game of chicken with you, often with horns blaring at having the gall
to impede their speeding cages.

********.

Time to bring back Zebras
 

On Wednesday, 27 May 2020 14:11:36 UTC+1, JNugent wrote:
On 27/05/2020 09:28, TMS320 wrote:
On 26/05/2020 15:45, Mike Collins wrote:

Councils cut pedestrian crossing waiting times to help with social
distancing

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...al-distancing/


Zebra crossings minimise delay for everyone.

The reason for traffic lights would have been that moronists had a
pattern of not giving way on zebras.

They still display the same pattern of behaviour, failing to stop their
bicycles at pedestrian crossings (of any sort) and often screaming
obscenities at pedestrians with the temerity to try to cross when and
where they have priority.

But thanks for admitting it.


What a sad response.