‘Cross now signal

Press, 19 May 1981, Page 22

‘Cross now signal

Sir,—Can the Ministry of Transport explain why it is necessary for pedestrians to push a button to obtain a “cross now” signal, rather than having the signal come up automatically when the lights turn green for traffic going in the same direction? Pedestrians frequently have to wait a whole sequence if they reach the button a second too late; conversely the “wait” can come on while they are halfway across. Many push-buttons do not work at all. Surely it would: be easier'if .turning cars automatically have to give way to pedestrians going straight ahead <’on the- green.;! had a heated discussion with a motorist today on just this point. At present petrol-wasting car drivers seem to think their rights are paramount. In a truly civilised city I believe things should' be made very much easier for people on foot. — Yours, etc., HUGH WILSON.

April 29, 1981. [Mr P. G. Sconear, Deputy General Manager and City Engineer, replies: “There are two types of traffic signals in Christchurch — those at isolated intersections in the suburbs which operate independently of other signals and most of those in the city centre which are controlled by computer. At the isolated signals, at non-peak times, the length of the green time given to any street is often determined by the time required for pedestrians to cross parallel with the traffic. If no pedestrians are present, the green time can be reduced and traffic waiting on other streets,can move sooner. To tell the traffic signals that pedestrians are present, the push button is required. In the city centre some traffic signals also operate independtly of the adjacent intersections. Again, pedestrain push-buttons reduce delay to motorists when pedestrians are not present. At the 68 intersections controlled by the computer the signals are, in many cases, able to adjust the amount of time given to side road traffic while maintaining the- green wave. If there is little side road traffic

and no pedestrians, the side road green signal can be shortened to the benefit of traffic following the green wave. To achieve this, pedestrian detectors are required. The “cross” signal only indicates to pedestrians that they may leave the kerbs and start crossing the road. The flashing “wait” is a clearance interval to allow pedestrians to continue across the road before traffic is released from another direction. Thus, at most intersections, pedestrians will be only partway across the road when the flashing “wait” signal appears. This indicates that no further pedestrians should leave the footpath and start crossing the road. If pedestrians are crossing the road obeying the “cross” and “wait” signals as described above, motorists turning across their path must give way to them. A routine maintenance check of all signals is made each six months. The department is reliant upon its own observation, that the Ministry of Transport or the public for information about faults occurring between checks. The City Council is conscious of the needs of pedestrians and makes every effort to achieve a reasonable compromise between their needs and those of motorists. If push buttons were elininated there would, in most instances, be longer delays as longer minimum green times would minimum green times would be required for street traffic. The City Council is actively promoting street closures, wider footpaths and pedestrian malls in the city centre.”