New pedestrian crossings in Galway

galwaycyclist

Iwannahurl wrote: »

Do you think there is adamant and active opposition to such crossings in City Hall/GTU?

Among certain officials, yes and they are currently fighting a rearguard action to keep zebra crossings out of the draft walking and cycling strategy. However there appears to be political support among the councillors.

Edit: one of the recent arguments they are putting up is that using zebra crossings would discriminate against disabled people.

antoobrien

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Edit: one of the recent arguments they are putting up is that using zebra crossings would discriminate against disabled people.

It would certainly discriminate against the blind, who rely on audio queues to let them know when it's safe to cross.

Perhaps a combination traffic light/pedestrian crossing where there would be flashing yellow & red light only would be appropriate. That would allow the disabled and elderly to stop traffic and cross safely, and other users would be able to judge traffic accordingly.

what_traffic

antoobrien wrote: »

It would certainly discriminate against the blind, who rely on audio queues to let them know when it's safe to cross.

Perhaps a combination traffic light/pedestrian crossing where there would be flashing yellow & red light only would be appropriate. That would allow the disabled and elderly to stop traffic and cross safely, and other users would be able to judge traffic accordingly.

Patent that idea.

Iwannahurl

Some links relating to the vision impairment issue.


http://www.ncbi.ie/news/public-policy-and-campaigns/tactile-paving

http://www.ncbi.ie/news/press-releases/2007-04-03_dublin-city-council-settles-equality-case-on-audible-pedestrian-crossing-signals

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/pededtrian-facilities-for-people-with-visual-impairment

antoobrien

what_traffic wrote: »

Patent that idea.

While I would dearly love to screw money out of the city council, I fear that prior art would get in the way of a patent. All this suggestion is is a standard road traffic light with the green (road light) either removed or disabled and some programming tweaks.

It's something I'd imagine that a competent technician would be able to do in a short space of time.

buzz11

The speeding on Clybaun Road is not the worst, but I wonder whether the zebra crossing needs traffic calming in the vicinity to make it less of a risk for pedestrians, especially children en route to and from St John the Apostle primary school?

The approach to these pedestrian crossings are very poorly sign posted, why do none of them have standard signs? (such as ones below)
The designers of these crossings are not making enough effort to make them stand out from the surrounding road landscape, blinking amber lights and black/white light poles are simply not enough to make the impact on drivers.

As usual, when you drive abroad you see best practice at work such as very large approach signs, properly painted road markings, well lit crossing etc.

(and no, I'm not advocating that drivers should be let off the hook for careless driving...but then again bad habits become routine if your chances of being caught are so low, cos the traffic corp aren't doing their job)

what_traffic

buzz11 wrote: »

The approach to these pedestrian crossings are very poorly sign posted, why do none of them have standard signs? (such as ones below)
The designers of these crossings are not making enough effort to make them stand out from the surrounding road landscape, blinking amber lights and black/white light poles are simply not enough to make the impact on drivers.

As usual, when you drive abroad you see best practice at work such as very large approach signs, properly painted road markings, well lit crossing etc.

(and no, I'm not advocating that drivers should be let off the hook for careless driving...but then again bad habits become routine if your chances of being caught are so low, cos the traffic corp aren't doing their job)

Good point - they also need to have very good overhead lighting so that the zebra crossing stands out when using it at night time.

what_traffic

what_traffic wrote: »

Installing the lights today at 13h00, not active yet. Possibly an overkill solution? perhaps raised zebra crossings on all arms of the roundabout would have been a simpler solution?

Lights are installed but still not active.

what_traffic

what_traffic wrote: »

Between the Bus Stop and Roundabout at IDA Business Park in Parkmore - installation of Pelican Crossing currently ongoing. Lights not active yet.

These lights are now active for a few weeks now.

buzz11

what_traffic

Only the 2nd picture has lights above the crossing. This should also be installed on the other two crossings which are far to dark at night.

snubbleste

Could someone clarify the benefit of these pelican crossings over the 'push button green man' crossings? Apart from the obvious giving pedestrians priority at crossings?

There is also a new traffic light pedestrian crossing being installed on Newcastle road junction with SQR.

biko

Traffic flow really. Cars won't have to wait until the light is green, just until crossing is clear.

Mrs OBumble

snubbleste wrote: »

Could someone clarify the benefit of these pelican crossings over the 'push button green man' crossings? Apart from the obvious giving pedestrians priority at crossings?

Less hardware, so cheaper to install? Uses less light-bulbs, so less maintenance? Pedestrians don't have to wait for the green man, they can just cross when there's a gap in the traffice.

galwaycyclist

snubbleste wrote: »

Could someone clarify the benefit of these pelican crossings over the 'push button green man' crossings? Apart from the obvious giving pedestrians priority at crossings?

There is also a new traffic light pedestrian crossing being installed on Newcastle road junction with SQR.

Just so we don't all end up talking accross each other.

'push button green man' (maybe) crossings = pelican crossing
'black and white stripes with flashing beacons' = zebra crossing

Iwannahurl

Are those "push button green Man" crossings not Pelican Crossings?





EDIT: answered above.