9 July 2008

Pedestrian Crossings - Pedestrian beware

| Peter Holland
Join the conversation
36

From my office window, I get to see one of the 2 pedestrian crossings on Townshend street in Phillip. I have seen all manner of accidents, near misses and closer encounters (that the pedestrians would wish for). My questions are:

How many people slow down for pedestrian crossings, or take the time to check that the crossing is free?

Who is exempt from stopping at a pedestrian crossing, can the elderly get away with just driving through and waving at the bemused pedestrian? (occasionally, this has been me on the crossing)

what is the speed limit down Townshend street anyway? (there aren’t any signs)

anyone?

Join the conversation

36
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Vic Bitterman said :

peterh, you should set up a video camera and post the results of these near misses on youtube… if it’s as serious as you say, then something needs to be done…

hmmmm. Video camera and youtube. that would be an interesting exercise at my place of work, the video camera I could get from home, but neither my system at home or at work will run to the youtube site – home one is too slow, work one is protected by a bluecoat server. bluecoat tells me that youtube is a “fun” site, no going there.

If a cyclist stops (still astride their bike) and waits at the crossing and then rolls across is it that much of a big deal? We will actually be across and out of your way faster than if we get off to walk.

At the crossing near Woden Library I had my 4yo in tow on the hitch bike, so instead of both of us getting off she was still seated and I had both feet down astride my bike. A lady coming towards the crossing started to slow down, looked straight at me then kept driving. Since she parked just past the crossing and got out of her car I decided to ask her why she didn’t stop and she told me because I was supposed to dismount and walk across. This is on the main cyclepath thoroughfare into and through Woden Town Centre

I mean FFS people, apply some common sense. Of course cyclists who ride straight out onto crossings are idjits, but if a cyclist is stopped beside a pedestrian crossing with their bike pointed across the roadway, what makes you think this indicates anything OTHER than “I am waiting to cross the road”??

swamiOFswank10:15 am 10 Jul 08

My gripe is with the louts, thugs, dealers and yahoo’s who zip out on either bikes or skateboards just near Subway on Emu Bank at Belco. Many a time they’ve come down the hill from Chandler Street and either stacked it on the pavement bumps at the bottom – ending up a sprawled-out heap of humanity on the crossing (skaters), or just fly across on bikes right in front of on-coming traffic.

This particular crossing needs to be fenced/open gated off so that only pedestrians can enter, with pavement bumps right the way across to prevent the skate hoods becoming bumper-bait.

Clown Killer7:42 am 10 Jul 08

Is it law that a motorist is supposed to stop until the pedestrian is completely off the crossing or just out of the way of the front of the vehicle?

Felix, way back when I learned to drive the rule used to be that at school crossings (the ones with the flags and poles) you had to stop until everyone was off the road. At pedestrian crossings (the white stripes on the road) you just had to stop while the people were in front of you.

Felix the Cat7:34 am 10 Jul 08

I reckon it would be a good idea if all pedestrian crossings were raised instead of being level with the road this way it would force car drivers to slow down and then they might actually see the pedestrians instead of whizzing through. Agreed that it is a two-way street (so to speak…) and pedestrians and motorists need to look out for each other. Some pedestrians think that as soon as they step out onto a crossing an invisible force field surrounds them and no harm can come to them.

The only pedestrian crossing where cyclist are a real issue is the one on David ST O’Connor/Turner. BTW, anyone seen the new cyclist crossing on De Burgh St yet? That’ll p#ss off the ratrunners from gungahlin.

Felix the Cat9:41 pm 09 Jul 08

shiny flu said :

The only exception to Pedestrian Crossings are bicycle riders.

If you are riding a bike, you must dismount and walk across the crossing ONLY if you want cars to give way to you. If however you choose to ride across and don’t dismount, you must give way to EVERY other vehicle/pedestrians i.e. cars have right of way.

As someone who rides a lot and drives a bit… this rule is oft forgotten. I’ve almost killed idiots on K-mart bikes riding as fast as they can across the crossing, but have seen many people on bikes slow down and wait for a car to stop and then continue riding (which is ok with me as a driver). Other than that, I always scan the road and at least slow down to 30km/h.

I don’t understand why everybody gets all stressed over cyclists riding across pedestrian crossings? As long as the cyclist slows down looks to see what traffic is aproaching and rides across (not at a hundred miles an hour but at a pace above walking speed) then the car driver doesn’t have to wait as long and the cyclist is on their way so it’s a win/win situation. Fair enough for car drivers to get upset if the pushy rider wizzes out from nowhere at warp speed and flies across the crossing but not if the biker is sensible about it.

Is it law that a motorist is supposed to stop until the pedestrian is completely off the crossing or just out of the way of the front of the vehicle?

Canberra is as bad as everywhere else in this one, there are a lot bad drivers out there, I watch people running the gauntlet on a pedestrian crossing walking to work everyday. I’m careful driving near them and when walking across them as I know a lot of people don’t bother stopping or looking. But then red lights don’t stop people either as I found out nearly getting run down by the moron in the silver mercedes coupe on london cct about a month ago.

Half the problem is where they put them as well, in slip lanes at most major traffic lights catches most people out because they’re too busy looking for traffic to give way to, and all the rediculous ones in the city just after intersections with give way signs. Alinga Street and Moore St/West Row is a good example of stupidity with near misses everyday that would average well over 10, and when the traffic comes to a 4 way stop as people cross the road.

As for around the canberra centre, they should just close bunda street to general traffic between 7am and 8pm except for delivery traffic, you would have to be crazy to try and get through during the day, unless you want to wait for 10 minutes for a gap in pedestrians.

The only exception to Pedestrian Crossings are bicycle riders.

If you are riding a bike, you must dismount and walk across the crossing ONLY if you want cars to give way to you. If however you choose to ride across and don’t dismount, you must give way to EVERY other vehicle/pedestrians i.e. cars have right of way.

As someone who rides a lot and drives a bit… this rule is oft forgotten. I’ve almost killed idiots on K-mart bikes riding as fast as they can across the crossing, but have seen many people on bikes slow down and wait for a car to stop and then continue riding (which is ok with me as a driver). Other than that, I always scan the road and at least slow down to 30km/h.

I go over a humped-up pedestrian crossing in Qbn every day, and you really have to peer around as there’s gardens and trees and all kinds of stuff for them to hide behind. Oddly, I haven’t seen any cyclists trying to take advantage though.

Some pedestrian crossings in Canberra seem to be regarded by cyclists as bicycle crossings. I dont’ stop for cyclists on pedestrian crossings.

Look pedestrians are fair game in Canberra. People just should NOT walk anwhere. The traffic lights are all sequenced incorrectly and in my view are for decoration. If you want to walk across a road, take a deep breath and move as fast as your legs will move you.

I am extremely conscious of pedestrians and always slow down, check, wave people through, etc. (I also leave room for people to merge into my lane in front of me from roads on my left – no saint I promise but I like it when people smile at me.) Have to say that pedestrians in Canberra are just about the worst I’ve ever encountered, especially in and around the city. Traffic lights seem to be used only as a gauge of wether you should :Green – amble across at your leisure, those cars waiting to turn left can wait for the lights to go through a full cycle again, I don’t hurry for anyone; Amber – power walk across six lanes and a huge median strip so all the car drivers can see how purposeful you are and acknowledge you WILL keep walking because you have places to be; Red – ensure your glare is turned up to full power in case any idiot thinks that just because he has a green light and yours is on red he has some sort of right to actually proceed in your general direction as you proceed to cross against the lights insanely as well as illegally.

Vic Bitterman5:38 pm 09 Jul 08

peterh, you should set up a video camera and post the results of these near misses on youtube… if it’s as serious as you say, then something needs to be done…

Foot traffic is minimal
Which is probably why they are crossings and not lights. No foot traffic = no need to stop.

it’s safe enough to cross with the strip in the middle
I respectfully disagree. Sometimes it’s not safe to cross at all, crossing included. Especially between 4.30 and 5.30pm when it’s really busy, and is a bit like a dragway towards the roundabout…… Crossing the road to get to the gym is a risk in itself sometimes.

barking toad said :

There shouldn’t be pedestrian crossings on Townshend Street.

Foot traffic is minimal and it’s safe enough to cross with the strip in the middle.

try doing that with a pram or stroller – very interesting to watch. lady today almost got cleaned up by:

a) bus
b) car
c) truck
d) car who had stopped too quickly at the pedestrian crossing – slid a bit.

barking toad3:42 pm 09 Jul 08

There shouldn’t be pedestrian crossings on Townshend Street.

Foot traffic is minimal and it’s safe enough to cross with the strip in the middle.

Holden Caulfield3:17 pm 09 Jul 08

imarty said :

Whilst we’re on the topic of pedestrian crossings, can any one explain why there are 3 crossings within 100 metres of each other on Corinna st right near the Southern Cross Club and Dick Smith???

Just to match the triple mounds near the Maccas in Manuka. And the one crossing every 20m policy on Bunda Street.

This is a topic dear to my heart (and right hip). Aged 11, I was crossing a zebra crossing when a Range Rover with ball bars hit me, breaking my pelvis and knocking me unconcious. I spent three weeks in hospital and two weeks in traction. I’ve had a number of until now minor side effects for most of my life, but I suspect it’s going to start increasing exponentially from here on in; the dull pain I used to get down one side of my body used to come and go. Now it doesn’t go.

Mercifully there are now traffic lights at that crossing (on Antil Street opposite Dickson Library), however, I was passing there a couple of weeks ago and someone aged not much older than I was at the time of the accident chose to dart out in the dark when I had the green light and I very nearly collected them.

At zebra crossings, I’m eternally vigilant as a pedestrian and a motorist, but in contrast to my own experience, I do wish pedestrians would on the whole be more assertive and cross when they can and not stand waiting for motorists to slow almost to a stop before giving them a wave and then heading across the crossing.

I agree that it’s a 50/50 call and to blindly head across could be inviting a bounce off the bonnet.

Kudos to whoever it was that does the courtesy wave through at busy crossings; I do the same in the city around the Canberra Centre.

As a cyclist, there’s a neat and almost seamless move you can do when approaching a crossing which is to swing one leg up and over the bar while you’re still moving, walk the bike across the crossing, and then swing back up and keep going. Anyone who cruises straight across when there’s traffic about is to be asking for the hardcopy of the publication referred to above to be aimed fairly and squarely at their bonce.

Whilst we’re on the topic of pedestrian crossings, can any one explain why there are 3 crossings within 100 metres of each other on Corinna st right near the Southern Cross Club and Dick Smith???

I think that was designed by the same person who designed for only one lane each way for the GDE.

imarty said :

Whilst we’re on the topic of pedestrian crossings, can any one explain why there are 3 crossings within 100 metres of each other on Corinna st right near the Southern Cross Club and Dick Smith???

because the act government can have 3 crossings within 100m of each other.

(and yet, no dragway)

Whilst we’re on the topic of pedestrian crossings, can any one explain why there are 3 crossings within 100 metres of each other on Corinna st right near the Southern Cross Club and Dick Smith???

caf said :

*technically* they didn’t give way if the pedestrian was either on the crossing or within 2 metres of either side of it (this applies regardless of whether the pedestrian looks like they’re going to cross or not).

Twas just a joke.

However apparently I don’t give way properly. Oops.

The worst crossing is the one near the University in Belco. At night, its damn near impossible to see people crossing the road. I wouldn’t mind betting a large sum of money that someone has been killed there. I always wait for pedestrians if they are waiting to cross the road. Its a shitty mentality that drivers don’t they they need to stop unless the pedestrian actually forces themselves to walk in front of the car. Its so bad that I have had several pedestrians give a thank you wave when I stop to let them cross the road at a crossing in disbelief.

*technically* they didn’t give way if the pedestrian was either on the crossing or within 2 metres of either side of it (this applies regardless of whether the pedestrian looks like they’re going to cross or not).

astrojax said :

when training to get a licence one is instructed to always slow down and look for pedestrians

Don’t know about ACT, but in NSW you will fail your P1 test if you don’t slow down and cover the brake pedal, just in case someone runs out onto a crossing from nowhere. This is second nature to me.

However the idiots who cross the road a) where there is no crossing, b) at night and c) right in front of you when you’re turning a corner and were looking to make sure that there was no oncoming traffic on the right almost deserve to get hit.

Nearly hit some young kid last night, couldn’t have been a day over 14. Just about to accelerate out of a left turn and all of a sudden this young smegger was there, running in front of my car. No sense of self preservation in today’s youth…

The Brad said :

I know the pedestrian crossings on Townshend St quite well, and drivers seem to be notoriously zippy on that street. I’d like to draw a parallel with the number auto-servicing establishments in that area, and employees with powerful engines.

I think that you will find, since the Police motorcyclist turned up in phillip, I believe that it is his new beat, that the number of auto servicing employees doing this have diminished. I was informed that he visited a few to let them know that he would be watching them.

unfortunately, he isn’t here at 4.00pm and onwards, and the rain yesterday is only a catalyst for the worst examples of driving I have ever seen, particularly when I have been in the middle of the crossing – the signpost won’t save me…..

The Brad said :

If someone does not heed the give way to pedestrians, and passes too closely, I’ve found a whack on their boot sometimes makes them slow down and check to see if they hit me. Hopefully, this teaches them to back off a bit next time.

Well technically they did give way, they just timed it really well…

Holden Caulfield11:45 am 09 Jul 08

The Brad said :

If someone does not heed the give way to pedestrians, and passes too closely, I’ve found a whack on their boot sometimes makes them slow down and check to see if they hit me. Hopefully, this teaches them to back off a bit next time.

I’m not familiar with the Townshend Street corssings myself, but at some of the ones around the Canberra Centre it’s nigh on impossible to get through them without being a little bit creative. If I’m walking through some of those and there’s a posisble gap for the car I’ll often wave them through. Sucks though when you try to do the right thing to let a car through and some bone/airhead just walks straight past you making the car wait even longer, haha.

Holden Caulfield11:42 am 09 Jul 08

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

I generally throttle off and have a good look – one of my fears is hitting a pedestrian when driving.

Same. And the crossing in between the High Court and Environment is especially tricky on the drive home from work at this time of year as it is so poorly lit. The other one I regularly drive past is the one near the cop shop on London Circuit. With cars parked close by it can often be difficult to see people approaching said crossing. Therefore I’ll always do my best to check as best I can before rumbling on through.

At crossings I’m more than happy to wait my time for pedestrians, but the dumb cyclists and pedestrians that walk through that Hobart Place car park without a care in the world must have a death wish. Even worse is when some fkers see you coming but still walk out in front of you.

I do make it a habit of looking to make sure no one is at the crossing. But, as a pedestrian, I can’t believe the amount of people who just walk out into the street believing the car will stop for them. If I come to a cross walk, and there are cars coming, I stop and wait until I can see the cars slowing down.

I think it’s a 50/50 thing. Both cars and peds should be responsible.

I know the pedestrian crossings on Townshend St quite well, and drivers seem to be notoriously zippy on that street. I’d like to draw a parallel with the number auto-servicing establishments in that area, and employees with powerful engines.
The other problem there is people who park, legally, just before the crossing, making it difficult to see a pedestrian who steps out without notice.

If someone does not heed the give way to pedestrians, and passes too closely, I’ve found a whack on their boot sometimes makes them slow down and check to see if they hit me. Hopefully, this teaches them to back off a bit next time.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy10:47 am 09 Jul 08

I generally throttle off and have a good look – one of my fears is hitting a pedestrian when driving.

Jonathon Reynolds10:46 am 09 Jul 08

ACT Road rules:
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/move/driver_licence/Road_Rules_Handbook

Pedestrians on pedestrian crossings always have right of way.
Bicycle riders who fail to dismount across a pedestrian crossing are fair game…

captainwhorebags10:24 am 09 Jul 08

I always make a point of looking for pedestrians, instead of just glancing.

This is especially true around Woden Plaza when they pop out off the footpaths very quickly.

If a mounted bicycle rider sees me, and we make eye contact, I usually drive through. If there’s any doubt that he’s going to stop, then I’ll give way. Cyclists who dismount get the full courtesy accorded to pedestrians.

Astrojax, no it doesn’t make you strange.

I slow down for crossings, and watch for cyclists who don’t realise (or don’t care) that they’re supposed to get off and walk their bikes across.

No signs = 50km/h is correct.

what is the speed limit down Townshend street anyway? (there aren’t any signs)

so, that would make it a suburban street and so 50kph, then?

when training to get a licence one is instructed to always slow down and look for pedestrians, who have right of way anyway, which is a reason they are prominently signposted… or has driving become an even more blinkered pursuit these days? i even slow down and watch further afield for cyclists at crossings i know to be frequented thus. does this make me strange?

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.