How to cross the road in the City

One thing is for sure its not likely to be Europeans getting hit because they are use to no one stopping for pedestrians especially in Paris

This is a good idea, and the timing is good given that the ANU is about to begin its annual orientation period for foreign students. I imagine that it cost one persons’ wages for a day and a few tins of spray-paint, so grumbling about cost is rather odd.

Now that might distract people enough that they walk into traffic. That or outrage them enough that they rant in a post on riotact.

p1 said :

I am trying to think of a humorous image to paint on the ground at the end of the arrow…

boobies!

I noticed these signs this morning. At least they’re new and it hasn’t taken me a few weeks to realise, haha.

This is one of myriad superfluous signs polluting our town. How about Keep Left – just in case you were thinking of driving over double yellow lines or mounting a traffic island in order to overtake.

Or Don’t Tailgate – as if serial tailgaters would pay any attention to this sign.

*hehe*

I love it!

Crossing the road was actually difficult for me in the US and I think it was because they drive on the opposite side of the road. I’m not sure why that threw me so much, but I remember that I really did have to think about it.

Foreign tourists in a strange city in a strange land are typically tired, jet-lagged, disoriented, battling with the language and customs, distracted while map-reading/looking for street signs/lost, or all/some of the above

I dunno about that. I looked everywhere in Marrakesh, even up.

You were likely to be run over by a camel as much as a car or bus, and that was on the sidewalk!

Yeah, but the camels come with speed humps.

Foreign tourists in a strange city in a strange land are typically tired, jet-lagged, disoriented, battling with the language and customs, distracted while map-reading/looking for street signs/lost, or all/some of the above.

Thinking which way to look — usually a natual instinct at home — is not always high on their list of priorities.

I couldn’t find a ‘net reference, but it has stuck in my mind for years that the wife of Jewish Council (?) head/ex-head Izzy Leibler made a simple mistake of stepping out into traffic in the US (New York?) some years ago and died instantly when she was struck by a vehicle. I don’t know why* but it really rattled me to the core and is always salient whenever related topics are discussed.

* Oh yeah, bouncing off that Ranger Rover that didn’t stop for me on the pedestrian crossing when I was 12, affecting my health to this day might have something to do with it. What a strange thing not to remember/associate.

Similar signs in Europe and the US have saved my hide too when I’ve been tired, jet-lagged, disoriented, battling with the language and customs, distracted while map-reading/looking for street signs/lost, or all/some of the above.

I think they’re a great idea.

I am trying to think of a humorous image to paint on the ground at the end of the arrow…

They look kind of funny and make me want to laugh, like the ‘Think‘ signs my mother-in-law used to post on her cupboard doors so people didn’t brain themselves ….

LOL

Nevertheless, I actually think it’s a useful reminder for children or easily distracted teens. I can’t comment on the cost effectiveness, but I certainly don’t mind it. If they disappeared tomorrow most of us would survive, though.

When I was little, Hector the Cat told me to look to the right then look to the left then look to the right again before walking straight across the road.

I’ve never quite figured out how someone can be so busy that it is worth saving a fraction of a second by not looking both ways before stepping onto the road.

I always thought that if these were for foreign tourists they should be in symbols, not English. But then I keep thinking that the sight of two painted eyes and an arrow to the right would probably scare me every time I tried to cross the road…

The complainant alleges he was looking down and to the right, as per the sign, when he was hit by a bus.

Why didn’t they paint it up in a ‘hip and cool’ way like “U No Look, U B Next”?

At least Steve Pratt won’t be able to take to it with a scrubbing brush and hose!

sezzle said :

…people might actually pay attention now.

Many people walk into sign posts and other people and trip over nothing – this isn’t going to help them at all.

These people should stay in the mall where they belong – the streets are clearly too dangerous for them.

I’ve seen many people step off the curb at the intersection of Uni Ave and London Circuit without looking for traffic (till they’re on the road). Then they either make a dash for it or step back.
They’re a great idea, people might actually pay attention now.

@timgee2007: I had noticed that too on the walk to work yesterday morning… one wonders whether you could sue the government after looking the wrong way then being hit by a car/bus on that intersection. Anyone keen to test this theory? 🙂

I’m going to sue!!!!! This sign is only in English, not a range of community languages. It also discriminates against the sight impaired!!!!!

This represents a betrayal by the Stanhope Government. Where are the Greens when you need them?

Nah, it’s all good, except at the end of Mort Street where it intersects with Bunda Street, where someone’s got their sense of direction slightly skewed. Crossing over from Veterans Park (towards the Canberra Centre), the “LOOK” sign points left, but all traffic is coming from the RIGHT (straight through from bus interchange, turning into Mort Street from Bunda)!

On the other hand, this is going to interfere with what might otherwise be perfectly fine natural selection. A dozen generations and humans wouldn’t be stupid enough to step in front of a two tonne lump of bright red metal doing 60km/h. Now we are all doomed to a gene pool polluted by the “poor situational awareness” gene.

You see them everywhere in Sydney and Melbourne. As people have said, they are for the benefit of the foreign devils.

Nothing to complain about on this one guys.

Yep Ive done it in Europe as well when driving left hand drive cars until you get use to it at intersections you automatically tend to look the wrong way!!!

I read somewhere about six months ago that it’s not just for foringers. Apparently a large number of people look at the ground in front of them as they walk and talk on their mobile phones rather than walking with their heads up. With just about everyone in Australia having a mobile it seems to make sence.

I think this is a great idea. There are a lot of foreign tourists in that area of the city, and it’s well known that tourists are often struck by cars when they look the wrong direction for oncoming traffic.

I do however question the use of english text. Why not use a motor vehicle symbol rather than text, like they do with the international standard ‘exit’ sign of a running person.

Yeah – this is pretty standard in many parts of the world – and has potentially saved my life in the past. Lets not just find another reason to hack on potential improvements to our city.

If tourists are still too stupid to not consider looking both ways half way across the road – then I don’t know what to suggest.

We’ve done fine without these signs for years – but I don’t see any problem with us having them.

It’s probably for the overseas touristy types.

I know years ago, I was in Paris, and I came within a gnat’s breath of getting flattened by a bus because I just automatically looked right as I stepped off the curb. If the guy behind me hadn’t grabbed me and pulled me back… Well, I’d be typing this from the afterlife 😉