Article: Law of the jungle rules zebra crossing

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Law of the jungle rules zebra crossing

Law of the jungle rules zebra crossing
July 22, 2011 - 3:00AM

It's the zebra crossing that's so busy convention is turned on its head and pedestrians stop to let cars pass.

Motorists and pedestrians alike believe there must be a better solution to moving people around at the Post Office Square crossing on Queen Street.

Last year the area was redeveloped to widen footpaths and give pedestrians more space, however the crossing remained.

The constant stream of pedestrians using the crossing makes it difficult for traffic pass through unless pedestrians take pity on oncoming vehicles and give way.

Daniel Andrasesco manages the nearby Mac's News and said the crossing caused a lot of tension at peak times.

"Cars get pretty annoyed around lunchtime, between 11:30 and 2:30, because it slows traffic right down," he said.

"I once saw a taxi driver hit a cycling courier, it wasn't major but it knocked him off the bike.

"It would be good if they put in a little pedestrian traffic light or even a lollypop lady."

As a taxi driver, Shane Jacobs gets the rough end of the deal at the crossing all too often.

He believes an overhead pedestrian crossing is the best solution.

"You just wait until they let you across because they are non-stop," he said.

Tracy Houston said the volume of foot traffic at the crossing made it difficult to extend drivers the courtesy of letting them pass through.

"I try to show the drivers some courtesy by stopping and then someone from the other side of the street will just walk across," she said.

"Pedestrians don't think, they just go. I always stop and take a good look."

A spokesperson for the Brisbane City Council said it had not received any complaints about the crossing in the last calendar year.

"The current street upgrade has been successful, providing a pedestrian-friendly subtropical boulevard," the spokesperson said.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/law-of-the-jungle-rules-zebra-crossing-20110721-1hqkh.html

[O_128]

Cry Cry Cry, It's One crossing in  the entire city , the whole reason it was put there is to discourage traffic down there so it can eventually be pedestrianised.

[Jonno]

Sound the battle cry a pedestrian has slowed down a car!!!!!!  Bring on more pedestrian crossings I say

[Gazza]

My method of 'trolling' motorists at this crossing is to slow up a bit walking, and only begin to cross when the person ahead is about halfway over. Hopefully by then, someone behind you begins to cross when you are part way over, so you stretch out the delay 

[SurfRail]

There shouldn't be any private vehicles on this street anyway.  There are no car park entrances, no laneways, virtually no on-street parking.  The only vehicles that should be transiting through here are buses, cabs and delivery/service vehicles.

[O_128]

There shouldn't be any private vehicles on this street anyway.  There are no car park entrances, no laneways, virtually no on-street parking.  The only vehicles that should be transiting through here are buses, cabs and delivery/service vehicles.

My assessment last semester involved closing this section of queen street. I find it funny because the council will do nothing as this was the aim all along of widening the footpaths.

[Mr X]

The days of driving through the major CBD streets should be over I'd think, at least with a toll. Many streets in the CBD have been taken over by cars (eg. Ann St) and need to be reclaimed by pedestrians to some degree I think.

As for pedestrian crossings, the one on Gladstone Rd, Highgate Hill is shocking. You hop off the 196 and stand at the crossing waiting for the cars to stop, but the problem is because cars come shooting down from a blind corner they don't see you until the last minute and thus, don't stop.

Another bad one is on Vulture St East, East Brisbane. It is ALMOST a pedestrian crossing in that there is a platform to cross, but because there is so much freaking traffic you have to wait for a gap. Which can come once every 20mins as the cars have spaced themselves out evenly by the time they reach it from the previous set of traffic lights!! I complained once to council and apparently it's against council policy to place pedestrian crossings on roads with more than one lane in each way due to safety concerns and a traffic light is needed instead. But as most things go, there is no funding for such an upgrade.

Both scenarios need traffic lights IMHO.