pedestrian "countdowns"

[unid]

Wondering what people think of this new system.

A "countdown" timer for pedestrians, which will tell them how long they have to cross the road, has been unveiled in south London.
The first such digital timer to be tested has been placed on Blackfriars Road opposite Southwark Tube station.
The countdown begins after the green man appears and until it turns red.
During the 18-month trial, costing £750,000, eight busy junctions in London will get the timers, including Oxford Circus and the West End.
Charity Living Streets said the scheme was an "expensive way to increase traffic at the expense of pedestrians".
Confusion over symbols
The trial comes after a Transport for London (TfL) study found that about half of the pedestrians crossed junctions even after the red man had appeared.

bbc

 

[yg17]

They're all over the place here. No opinion either way really...

 

[Disc Golfer]

Here everywhere too. I like em I guess. They give you a better idea when the light is going to change. They don't make people in their car-bubbles notice pedestrians any more than usual.

 

[Gonzo3333]

Those things are everywhere here in Chicago. I love them when I am riding my bicycle because they let me know when the lights are about to turn yellow or red.

 

[Gelfin]

They're nearly all replaced here, and I think they are brilliant, both as a pedestrian and as a driver, living in a city with an above-average contention between the two. Not only do they give the pedestrian vital intelligence on how to not die, but they are visible enough that drivers can usually get an idea how long they have to get through the light before it turns yellow.

The only rare shortcoming I have seen is that sometimes drivers who are not familiar with them (tourists ) will see a countdown with a few seconds left and stop prematurely, apparently not realizing how long five seconds is when you are driving, and also that you still get the yellow light first.

I have no idea what that critical quote could possibly mean. How would a countdown at crosswalks increase traffic?

 

[Xavier]

Those things are everywhere here in Chicago. I love them when I am riding my bicycle because they let me know when the lights are about to turn yellow or red.

Same here.

 

[unid]

I have no idea what that critical quote could possibly mean. How would a countdown at crosswalks increase traffic?

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:

“The Mayor announced recently that 2011 was to be the year of walking, but introducing countdown crossings will in reality do very little for those traveling by foot and appears to be an illusory measure aimed at improving the flow of motor traffic. We have grave concerns that this comes at the expense of pedestrians and as TfL have already found, the scheme is a triple whammy against pedestrians- less time to cross, more waiting at crossings, and the potential for pedestrians to feel less safe.

“When we are being constantly reminded that the purse strings are being tightened to help us get through this tough economic climate, we can’t quite believe that TfL are going ahead with the introduction of countdown crossings across the capital. This investment should be spent on improving our current crossings and the general quality of our streets to make walking as accessible as possible. Instead, their intentions seem to be to provide crossings which leave people feeling vulnerable and under pressure to cross in a short period of time.

“Fear of traffic and the tortuous amounts of time it can take to cross some roads are real barriers to people walking more short journeys, and lead to more people putting themselves at risk. Older people and people with mobility problems are particularly affected. We don’t need expensive countdown timers installed at up to 6,000 locations across the capital, they are no substitute for quality safe crossings that give sufficient time to cross the road. Our streets are places as well as traffic corridors, and should be designed with people in mind first, not just motor traffic.”

link

Not sure how that was construed as increasing traffic, but the suggestion that the measure is geared to easing traffic flow, as opposed to being a significant benefit to pedestrains, seems realistic.

 

[Gelfin]

It is both. That criticism is just nuts. Why would you institute that and then not give pedestrians enough time to cross? The problem is naturally, in part, people who start across as the light is changing and continue to block traffic, but this is also a hazard to pedestrians, and if there isn't enough time to cross when you get there, you'll only have to wait a couple of minutes, so whats the problem? Wide intersections get VERY long timers. If the elderly cannot get across before the light changes, then extending the time is a separate complaint.

I mean, it's not really my concern. I don't live there. But really, I have rarely heard such nonsense.

You will still have people crossing late and having the light change while they are in the middle of the street, I assure you. The only thing this changes is that they will know it before they begin and have the opportunity to make an informed choice.

 

[patrick0brien]

I like 'em as both as a pedestrian trying not to be killed by a fleet o Taxi's, and as a driver who's trying to get off the pole in a hurry >