[sustran] Re: Pelican Crossings!!

Cornie Huizenga cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org
Wed Jul 14 10:47:00 JST 2010


Paul,

I very much like the part in the Zebra definition: "drivers must give way to
pedestrians who
  demonstrate intent to cross".  I am afraid that this part has not been
read by 99.9% of the drivers in Asia.

Having lived now in Asia for almost 15 years it is always a surprise when I
go back to Europe and see cars stop when I am on the side of the road near a
zebra crossing.

Here in Asia I would put more trust in a pedestrian traffic light than in a
zebra crossing.

Cornie

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 8:44 PM, Paul Barter <peebeebarter at gmail.com> wrote:

> A few words on terminology.
>
> This is a useful debate on pedestrian facilities (and when or whether they
> help).
>
> But 'pelican crossing' and 'puffin crossing' are not familiar terms in most
> places outside Britain. [I for one didn't understand them until looking
> them
> up just now.]
>
> So here are some wikipedia definitions (which may be wrong?):
>
> "In the United Kingdom and parts of the
> Commonwealth<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth>,
> animal names are often used to distinguish several types of such crossings:
>
>   - Zebra crossing <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_crossing>: wide
>   longitudinal stripes on road, often with belisha
> beacons<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belisha_beacon>;
>   pedestrians may cross at any time; drivers must give way to pedestrians
> who
>   demonstrate intent to cross.
>   - Pelican crossing <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican_crossing>:
> traffic
>   lights <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_light> for pedestrians and
>   vehicles; button-operated.
>   - Puffin crossing <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffin_crossing>:
>   pedestrian lights on near side of road; button-operated with curb-side
>   detector.
>   - Toucan crossing <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toucan_crossing>: for
>   bicycles <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle> as well as pedestrians."
>
>
> As an Australian (in Singapore) I would use 'pedestrian activated traffic
> lights' (or in casual conversation just 'pedestrian lights') for both
> pelican and puffin crossings. The animal terms are obviously shorter. But
> only useful if we all understand them. 'Zebra' seems common everywhere but
> not the others.
>
> All the best
>
> Paul
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-- 
Cornie Huizenga
Joint Convener
Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport
Mobile: +86 13901949332
cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org
www.slocat.net


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