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London crossing signs will tell Frail Elders & Disabled to Move
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by Beaulieu | March 11, 2009 at 02:31 pm
354 views | 67 Recommendations | 22 comments
It appears that easing 'flow of traffic' takes priority over people's lives nowadays.
Already in London, vulnerable cyclists have to put up with motorcyclists using bus and cycle lanes under an 18-month trial ' to increase the flow' and apparently 'save lives' but now Transport for London, copying silly ideas from abroad, wants to take these steps even further by speeding up pedestrians on crossings, no matter how frail, disabled or young they are. Even dithering tourists will be at a disadvantage. It just needs to 'look good on paper'.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has been spearheading this scheme designed to appeal to the motorist in a hurry to get to a party or show in London.
An excerpt from Rochdale online today, showed that some residents were concerned that this can happen over there:
"Pedestrians could be made to walk faster on crossings under a new Government plan to improve the flow of traffic.
The proposal, made yesterday by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, could mean that crossings across the country will have a countdown system installed, pressuring pedestrians to get a move on, and singling those out who can not keep up the pace.
Wera Hobhouse, portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability at Rochdale Borough Council, has been trying to encourage local people to walk and cycle as opposed to using a car, and claims Boris’ bid is “not acceptable”.
Johnson has asked the Department of Transport for permission to install the system on 6000 set of lights across the country, with the possibility of more in the future. He hopes the extra “green time” will make pedestrians speed up or, if they are slow at walking, wait on the side of the road until the next green man phase.
Wera Hobhouse said this is not the way to solve congestion problems. She said: “Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users, and we should be doing everything we can to protect them, not to pressure them. “I would not welcome this kind of thing into Rochdale and I do not support it”.
Jennifer Crane walks to work everyday from Castleton to central Rochdale. She said: “I enjoy walking to work because its cheap and relaxing. “But to have this countdown system would just wind everyone up, and single out those who can’t walk so fast. It will have no affect on anyone whatsoever, and would be a massive waste of money”.
The Government are not offering slower moving people free roller-skates.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (22)
at 15:17 on March 11th, 2009
Thanks for this, Beaulieu. Great post.
at 16:17 on March 11th, 2009
Thanks.. was it you who made that Highlighting thingy work. Brill.
at 15:20 on March 11th, 2009
Well I suppose they can tell people but they can't make them do it - how ridiculous!
at 16:23 on March 11th, 2009
That's true, you just watch the drama unfold. Some people just have to learn the hard way, though at other people's expense but some will never learn.
Let's hope NP Contributors will report back on these crossings when they're up and running. Some crossings are too fast already and I am not disabled.
What's wrong with just getting up earlier and a bit of patience?
at 15:43 on March 11th, 2009
Agree with you there Amy you can take a horse to water,but you cannot make it drink the said water. Having just returned from a trip to Holland, we should all take a leaf out of the book of the Dutch way. Get on our Bikes. Tandems Bikes with baby carriers attached shopping bikes with baskets in front of the handle bars. Bikes everywhere.Good way to tone up those leg muscles. Tho,I must add it was not just young peoples way of travel, I saw loads of pensioners pedal along looking happy and fit. A know what your all thinking as I write. Dream on Zoe.
at 16:16 on March 11th, 2009
Less cars would ease the flow of course but Boris is against the congestion charge. So as cars expect to increase by 2012 there will be more congestion, mayhem and road rage.
In Boris' line of thought, perhaps the lights would have to be speeded up even more by then or else some of the traffic lights would have to be conveniently 'removed' to 'ease traffic flow'. The city is being built round cars not people.
I very much doubt human evolution will speed up elderly people by 2012!
The Scheme is made without thought and probably without consulting a number of appropriate organisations.
at 16:25 on March 11th, 2009
The public might like to know which corporation has lobbied the Mayor to convince the government to buy more unneccessary, expensive, and intrusive technology. The Slow Movement has been taking off in England, so there is an alternative.
at 16:40 on March 11th, 2009
I suppose the trick is to meet him face to face. BJ has a Question Time twice a year (one was on 5 March). He doesn't seem to reply to emails, well, at least not mine, so it is best he meets The Raving Public directly.
From the Mayor's website:-
"Your chance to question the Mayor and the London Assembly
People's Question Time is a meeting that gives Londoners an opportunity to ask the Mayor and the London Assembly about their plans, priorities and policies for London. These meetings are held twice a year, in the evening, each time in a different area of London".
at 16:41 on March 11th, 2009
Whether it be a walk/don't walk signal, or a yellow light, or the countdown system, elderly people are going to walk how they're going to walk, slow. And it's common courtesy and respect for them, by drivers, (and not what system is in place at crossings) that has to be taken into consideration.
Toronto has the countdown system in place, and most find it a much better - you pretty well know how long it takes to get across a particular street, when using it regularly. Nothing like the scramble, of course, but that's a whole other thing.
at 16:49 on March 11th, 2009
Thanks for your interesting comments. I am concerned there will be little courtesy for people trying to get across, as Esta has already mentioned. In the UK, they are often not very courteous if they're in a hurry.
It would be good to get some other views from people in Toronto who perhaps have a disability. Do they find ways of avoiding the crossings or go when it is less busy?
Has the countdown system really made it less congested or has it actually encouraged more cars?
at 17:04 on March 11th, 2009
Beaulieu, most of the seniors are on the go between morning and afternoon rush hours, and as far as I know, it's never been a problem. Most drivers seem to have the utmost patience towards the elderly (unlike their attitudes towards other drivers or cyclists). I'll see if I can find something on it, locally. Here's about when we first got them, over 2 years ago, looks like reactions were positive. Still checking for reactions since ....
at 17:15 on March 11th, 2009
Countdown signals: the verdict is in - one year later, checking the facts, and opinions of the changeover in Toronto.
at 19:16 on March 11th, 2009
In London, they shout out: "Out the way, Grandad!"
at 16:51 on March 11th, 2009
Some people shouldn't be rushed across the road, perhaps women who just had Caesarians.
at 19:14 on March 11th, 2009
What a great post, Beaulieu, and an important story. I'm going to have to get a Zimmer Frame just so I can attack the cars! But I find car drivers along Camberwell New Road (the main road I have to cross each morning to get my bread, milk, newspaper and eggs) enormously thuggish. Ive had car drivers (thjose 4x4s) deliberately accelerate towards me as I cross, even though they are in front of a red light! Here, in Bangkok I could walk across a 6 lane highway and be confident cars would slow for me. Here, it is very uncool to get angry in public! But how to get change? I think we need a punishment of "Cutting OFF The Goolies" instated on our statute book. That should do it nicely.
at 19:46 on March 11th, 2009
My only grouse with this story is the bloody wording! After all, a thirteen year old is never called a teenagerly. It would be considered as completely patronising. Now would workers be called workerlies. So WHY are anyone after the age of fifty odd called ELDERLY. There are lots of straightforward, non-patronising ways of referring to people older than a certain age. How about ELDERS as a start. or plus-fifties (depending on what issue you are discussing) or Seniors as in the US or Uncle (as I'm always called in Sri Lanka by everyone - Suddha Mama (white uncle), or Pa as Im called here in Bangkok!
I HATE BEING PATRONIZED!
PS: It seems to me that the issue here is NOT age at all. There are of plenty 90 year olds quite capable of running across the road. The issue is frailty: the inability to walk quickly due to one's state of health! Age and Health are not necessarily correlated.
Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It, You Titchy TeenyBopper.
at 00:55 on March 12th, 2009
Good point. I've changed it to 'Frail Elders'.. it is just looks odd now and there may be less 'sympathy'! We need all we can get in London.
at 19:36 on March 12th, 2009
Good on you! There are lots of words you can use - frail, older people. That then can include Cypresso if he wants. We've always had a patronising attitude towards old people (a bit like calling the poor - less privileged - what aload of bollocks!). They used to be called Retired or should that be Re-tyred? Then early early retirement came along and put the kybosh on that. I like the American idea of Seniors too. I think all this reflect an ambivalent attitude to social ageist values. Although it is changing - slowly.
I remember, just before I left the 'workforce', going for a training post with a housing association. They are very PS and donmt your age on the applicatio form. So when I entered the interview room, I could tell from the body language, I threw them (What's this geyser think he is doing, expecting to work with us?).
Ive got a neighbour who is 86: she has just stopped working. She is so alive; and quite capable of stopping traffic in the middle of the road.
at 20:27 on March 11th, 2009
I know drivers who watch the timers as they are approaching the light, it helps them "time" the signal. Obviously this is a bad idea because they are not watching what is going on, and only care about getting through the light as fast as possible.
at 00:40 on March 12th, 2009
Some one throw a shoe at this Mayor an see him walk a bit faster.
at 06:37 on March 12th, 2009
WIll it also tell elderly drivers to get their asses in gear and turn off that damn left turn signal light?
at 04:04 on March 14th, 2009
An excerpt from a letter in the Times today from David Brown Surface Transport for London:
"... this does not mean that pedestrians will be made to cross the road more quickly. There are no plans to cut up to six seconds from pedestrians at all of London's 6000 traffic lights.
We are examining all of London's traffic lights to ensure the right balance for all road users. Where pedestrians have more time than they need at a particular junction, it may be reduced. At other locations crossing time maybe increased, but it will always meet or exceed government guidelines".
He then goes on to say that "In San Francisco, it helped to reduce pedestrian accidents by 25 per cent".
and finally "but pedestrians will always have enough time to cross the road".