Stephen Dowling BBC News The green man, an icon for pedestrians across the UK, could be replaced by a countdown clock as part of London's plans to ease traffic flow. But from Cairo to Chicago, how people cross the road speaks volumes about a country's cultural values.
Stephen Dowling BBC News The green man, an icon for pedestrians across the UK, could be joined by a countdown clock as part of London's plans to ease traffic flow. But from Cairo to Chicago, how people cross the road speaks volumes about a country's cultural values.
You only need to step outside your hotel when staying in a foreign city to know that when it comes to crossing the road, there's no such thing as an international standard. Every country does it differently.
You only need to step outside your hotel when staying in a foreign city to know that when it comes to crossing the road, there's no such thing as an international standard. Every country does it differently.
In Cairo, pedestrians seemingly take their lives in their hands, striding out into oncoming traffic in the Middle East's most chaotic roads that would never be seen on a British High Street.
In Cairo, pedestrians seemingly take their lives in their hands, striding out into oncoming traffic in the Middle East's most chaotic roads that would never be seen on a British High Street.
In Bangkok, crossing the street means playing chicken with armadas of scooters and cars that see pedestrian crossings as an obstacle course.
In Bangkok, crossing the street means playing chicken with armadas of scooters and cars that see pedestrian crossings as an obstacle course.
In affluent Berlin, bankers and punks alike will wait patiently at the kerbside on streets deserted of traffic until the green man appears - they would no sooner jaywalk than set themselves on fire. And in teeming cities like New York and Tokyo traffic flows are negotiated around the need for pedestrians to walk safely amid the business district skyscrapers.
In affluent Berlin, bankers and punks alike will wait patiently at the kerbside on streets deserted of traffic until the green man appears - they would no sooner jaywalk than set themselves on fire. And in teeming cities like New York and Tokyo traffic flows are negotiated around the need for pedestrians to walk safely amid the business district skyscrapers.
Mark Page, a lecturer at the Institute for Transport Studies at Leeds University, says the UK's roads are often designed with vehicles first.
Mark Page, a lecturer at the Institute for Transport Studies at Leeds University, says the UK's roads are often designed with vehicles first.
"If you look around at pedestrian crossings here and in other cities in the UK, crossing times are not generous. Often where those pedestrian crossings are is where there's the greatest amount of vehicle traffic."
"If you look around at pedestrian crossings here and in other cities in the UK, crossing times are not generous. Often where those pedestrian crossings are is where there's the greatest amount of vehicle traffic."
Unfair?
Unfair?
Denied time to dawdle, if London mayor Boris Johnson gets his way, pedestrians striding from one kerb to another will be doing so against the clock. Critics say a countdown system like the proposed by Johnson might also make pedestrians feel inferior to drivers. Subconsciously, the ticking clock is telling them that they have to get off the road so that the important people - those behind the wheels of their cars - can get on with their business. Streets have a multitude of different uses⦠they are places where people talk and meet Mark Page, Institute for Transport Studies
Denied time to dawdle, if London mayor Boris Johnson gets his way, pedestrians striding from one kerb to another will be doing so against the clock. Critics say a countdown system like the proposed by Johnson might also make pedestrians feel inferior to drivers. Subconsciously, the ticking clock is telling them that they have to get off the road so that the important people - those behind the wheels of their cars - can get on with their business. Streets have a multitude of different uses⦠they are places where people talk and meet Mark Page, Institute for Transport Studies
The countdown approach is already used in parts of the US and Denmark. But, Mr Page says, countries such as the Netherlands and Germany see streets as "public realms to be enjoyed as a pedestrian rather than roads as a conduit for traffic.
The countdown approach is already used in parts of the US and Denmark. But, Mr Page says, countries such as the Netherlands and Germany see streets as "public realms to be enjoyed as a pedestrian rather than roads as a conduit for traffic.
"Streets have a multitude of different uses⦠they are places where people talk and meet."
"Streets have a multitude of different uses⦠they are places where people talk and meet."
Tony Armstrong, the head of the Living Streets campaign group, says segregation doesn't work - nor does anything that makes pedestrians feel less valued. He looks at decades of town planning so far and says "the net result is we've designed people out of the environment".
Tony Armstrong, the head of the Living Streets campaign group, says segregation doesn't work - nor does anything that makes pedestrians feel less valued. He looks at decades of town planning so far and says "the net result is we've designed people out of the environment".
The green man - an international avatar
The green man - an international avatar
In countries, like Denmark, however, a consensus has been found. "The classic example is Copenhagen," Mr Armstrong says. "It's a fantastic place to be in and hang around. There's a massive rate of cycling among people who live there."
In countries, like Denmark, however, a consensus has been found. "The classic example is Copenhagen," Mr Armstrong says. "It's a fantastic place to be in and hang around. There's a massive rate of cycling among people who live there."
City planners blocked off some roads to traffic, and pedestrianised them. "They brought in public art, had entertainment, and turned car parks into public squares." People were encouraged to walk or cycle to them - in keeping with the environmentally-friendly Scandinavian archetype. Yet the motorist was simply elbowed out of the picture. A previously car-centric city became one where people, cars and cyclists were treated equally.
City planners blocked off some roads to traffic, and pedestrianised them. "They brought in public art, had entertainment, and turned car parks into public squares." People were encouraged to walk or cycle to them - in keeping with the environmentally-friendly Scandinavian archetype. Yet the motorist was simply elbowed out of the picture. A previously car-centric city became one where people, cars and cyclists were treated equally.
So this is how it works in northern Europe - a system most Brits will be able to adapt to fairly quickly.
So this is how it works in northern Europe - a system most Brits will be able to adapt to fairly quickly.
Local knowledge
Local knowledge
But just a few hundred miles south, in Rome, the streets start to look more like a deathtrap, as Fiats and Piaggio scooters zoom past in an "every man for himself" style of transport. Roman residents, however, are confident in their ability to share the streets with the car. They know that vehicles only stop when you walk out in front of them.
But just a few hundred miles south, in Rome, the streets start to look more like a deathtrap, as Fiats and Piaggio scooters zoom past in an "every man for himself" style of transport. Roman residents, however, are confident in their ability to share the streets with the car. They know that vehicles only stop when you walk out in front of them.
This local knowledge in a tourist-dependant city like Rome isn't much use to its many millions of visitors.
This local knowledge in a tourist-dependant city like Rome isn't much use to its many millions of visitors.
The European consumer testing agency EuroTest, based in Brussels, did a survey of more than 200 pedestrian crossings in 17 different cities last year partly because of this issue, with the help of local motoring organisations
The European consumer testing agency EuroTest, based in Brussels, did a survey of more than 200 pedestrian crossings in 17 different cities last year partly because of this issue, with the help of local motoring organisations
"If you're going to another city as a foreigner what are your chances of crossing the road?" says EuroTest's Caroline Ofoegbu. "You don't think 'do I need to know the differences about crossing roads?'
"If you're going to another city as a foreigner what are your chances of crossing the road?" says EuroTest's Caroline Ofoegbu. "You don't think 'do I need to know the differences about crossing roads?'
"In Belgium for instance, if you cross the street anywhere other than a crossing and a police officer sees you, it's a 70-80 euro fine - and he'll take it as an insult that you saw him and still crossed!"
"In Belgium for instance, if you cross the street anywhere other than a crossing and a police officer sees you, it's a 70-80 euro fine - and he'll take it as an insult that you saw him and still crossed!"
Separation
Separation
As motoring has developed, so has the design of systems to stop people and vehicles running into each other.
As motoring has developed, so has the design of systems to stop people and vehicles running into each other.
For the past four decades British roads have been built to keep pedestrian and driver separate - ostensibly to improve the safety of the lowly foot soldier; a patrician guiding hand preventing the unsophisticated, perhaps, from wandering into the grille of a juggernaut.
For the past four decades British roads have been built to keep pedestrian and driver separate - ostensibly to improve the safety of the lowly foot soldier; a patrician guiding hand preventing the unsophisticated, perhaps, from wandering into the grille of a juggernaut.
Yet Britain led the way in the development of pedestrian crossings. Most people use them without realising the wealth of systems they use to help drivers and pedestrians - including the deaf and hearing impaired - interact safely.New York - pedestrians and cars share the streets
Yet Britain led the way in the development of pedestrian crossings. Most people use them without realising the wealth of systems they use to help drivers and pedestrians - including the deaf and hearing impaired - interact safely.New York - pedestrians and cars share the streets
There are linked lights to make sure people aren't crossing in front of moving traffic, sloped kerbs, different textured pavement to help the blind, more visible signs showing when to walk, flashing graphics, tones and ticks and buzzes to tell us when we should be crossing, barriers to channel us into safe crossing zones.
There are linked lights to make sure people aren't crossing in front of moving traffic, sloped kerbs, different textured pavement to help the blind, more visible signs showing when to walk, flashing graphics, tones and ticks and buzzes to tell us when we should be crossing, barriers to channel us into safe crossing zones.
For drivers, there are warning signs, lights, zigzagged lines and colour codes, all telling drivers to be careful, that people may be crossing ahead.
For drivers, there are warning signs, lights, zigzagged lines and colour codes, all telling drivers to be careful, that people may be crossing ahead.
But sometimes drivers become so inured to this street "furniture" they forget to look for people crossing - they forget what it's there for. And a 1970 study by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal looking at San Diego accidents found incidents were twice as likely at "marked crossings" as unmarked crossings.
But sometimes drivers become so inured to this street "furniture" they forget to look for people crossing - they forget what it's there for. And a 1970 study by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal looking at San Diego accidents found incidents were twice as likely at "marked crossings" as unmarked crossings.
Why? Pedestrians lose a sense of personal responsibility - they think that because they are at an official crossing, they don't need to look where they are going. And then they step out into oncoming traffic.
Why? Pedestrians lose a sense of personal responsibility - they think that because they are at an official crossing, they don't need to look where they are going. And then they step out into oncoming traffic.
The best-designed crossing, according to EuroTest's research, was to be found in London, in the middle of Westminster between Tothill Street and Storey's Gate.
The best-designed crossing, according to EuroTest's research, was to be found in London, in the middle of Westminster between Tothill Street and Storey's Gate.
It has some well-designed features that make it visible to drivers (and a traffic island in the middle), but essentially it's a zebra crossing like those first designed in the 1940s - where pedestrians and drivers have to make eye contact.
It has some well-designed features that make it visible to drivers (and a traffic island in the middle), but essentially it's a zebra crossing like those first designed in the 1940s - where pedestrians and drivers have to make eye contact.
This, Mr Page says, is often the answer. "If you encourage them [drivers and pedestrians] to mix you are asking them to take more notice of each other."
This, Mr Page says, is often the answer. "If you encourage them [drivers and pedestrians] to mix you are asking them to take more notice of each other."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
As a frequent pedestrian, I feel that UK roads are not designed with us in mind - hence my willingness to jaywalk. Obviously I have my own safety to think about, and I need to be courteous to other traffic; but I do intend to get where I'm going!Howard, C
In Ljubljana, Slovenia they use both: the red/green man and a countdown clock. When the light is red, the clock shows how man seconds are left until the light will turn green: why chance it if you only have five seconds to wait? When the light is green, it shows the time remaining to cross. Approaching motorists have similar countdown clocks. That way, the green man stays and no one feels inferior. The system seems to work well.Hugh, Brussels, Belgium
Dublin uses the countdown system in the centre of the city and it works very wellJonathan, Sheffield, UK
So "Critics say a countdown system like the proposed by Johnson might also make pedestrians feel inferior to drivers." What drivel. The US system is an excellent idea - and I say this as someone who has done a lot of walking, not driving, in some major US cities - so let's hope Boris adopts it in London without delay.Rod M, Camberley, UK
It all depends on where you are. In Oxford, no one drives through the centre of town if they can help it. The historic streets are very narrow, and lots of them don't really go anywhere much, and added to that a few key streets in the centre of town have been pedestrianised. This means that pedestrians tend to treat all the central streets as their own, and drivers know to drive slowly because people WILL just walk out.
Oddly, I can think of one street in particular where this used to happen all the time. A few years ago the council installed a pedestrian crossing. Suddenly the previously patient drivers started to behave as though the street was theirs and to get angry if pedestrians didn't wait at the crossing.Jess, Oxford, UK
In Rochdale, where I live and work, pedestrian crossings have been changed to those that use a camera to sense the pedestrian on the crossing. They don't work! The traffic is held at a red light long after the pedestrian has strolled away down the road causing frustration and unnecessary delay for motorists. Bring back the flashing-amber discretionary proceed with caution.Stuart Sawle, Rochdale
Why don't they put a pedestrian section in the driving test? Where potential drivers are made to get out of the cars and try walking in some heavily trafficked areas? For a start, they'd start to recognise places where, from a pedestrians point of view it seems like a good place to cross ( but doesn't from the driving seat) and also, they might have more regard for pedestrians having been there themselves. I think many young drivers have themselves been driven everywhere. I think the same rule should apply to cyclists: drivers should have to (at least!) watch a video shot from the perspective of a cyclist (i don't think you can insist everyone cycles because some people may not be able to) to show them how it feels to be a cyclist in traffic.louise, england
Strange that you mention Bangkok. Last time I was there they had also gone for Countdown crossings, which worked surprisingly well. Incredibly for Thai traffic, most drivers seemed to obey them!Katie, Woking, Surrey
In NI pedestrians seem to think that by stepping on to a zebra crossing they somehow become invincible - they walk onto them without lifting their heads to check for traffic, without breaking their stride nor giving a driver any indication that they intend to cross the road. Making eye contact is practically anathema to them. The pedestrians need to be reminded of their responsibilities as well as reminding the drivers! Jude, Belfast, NI
