… to find it impossible to cross the roads these days?

[NotdeadyetBOING]

The powers that be seem to be removing all the traffic lights (with nice green men) and replacing them with ….. nothing. Or those raised brick things that are supposed to 'slow the traffic'. I absolutely hate the new system. No one knows who has right of way and often it's really dangerous trying to cross as you have to try to look 3 ways simultaneously. Turns into a game of chicken as you wonder whether a car coming your way is planning on turning into the side street you want to cross but hasn't bothered to indicate etc. I get the theory which is that all road users (pedestrians and motorists) are permanently stressed and confused so SLOW DOWN, but I don't like being permanently stressed and confused. The reality is that pedestrians have to wait hours before there are no cars anywhere in the vicinity before daring to cross. I think it deters people from walking which seems mad given that there is too much traffic on the roads as it is plus an obesity problem.

….

[splendide]

I have not noticed this change but I guess it will be specific to your local planning dept. I have read it's safer overall but I agree it sounds more stressful.

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

Can't say I've noticed any change.

[ComeonSummer1]

Lots of traffic lights still by us and pelican crossings.

Not sure what you mean by raised brick things.

If you really can't cross have you involved your MP or local police officer.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

I am in London and it seems to be happening all over the city. Raised brick things not very clear as a description I agree (!), but what I mean is where they set grey bricks in the tarmac to demarcate a 'crossing area', but there are no traffic lights or anything. Will try to find a picture.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Sort of like this:

uk.pinterest.com/pin/482588916293179137/

Only this image shows it in a quiet cul de sac. They are everywhere now - even at big junctions.

[Krampus]

They've done this in our town center where there was a very busy crossing mainly used by buses, taxis and pedestrians. It seems to have made it safer and made the traffic of vehicles and people flow better. Traffic is slower and pedestrians actually seem to be looking around.

I think the main issue to resolve is how do people who are visually impaired cope. People with guide dogs and white canes have relied on things like the drop in curb, noise from traffic lights and that little spinny thing. (These www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-22706881)

[NotdeadyetBOING]

As a pedestrian I look around like mad - but often you have to take your life in your hands to cross and sprint across hoping for the best. God knows how older people do it. I would far rather wait for a green man to tell me when it is safe.

And agree - particularly hard for visually impaired people.

[SmallGreenBouncyBall]

yanbu

there is a consultation in my area to remove a pelican crossing next to a school. they want to put in a zebra crossing.
wtf

[Catphrase]

Yes to the stupid raised things, people just plough through without caution.

I've noticed a lot more people not bothering to indicate which makes crossing tricky, they then shoot you evils for crossing in front of them.
I cross a busy round about which has a crossing either side. But the drivers are so busy watching the round about, they miss us pedestrians. It's blinking dangerous.
No bugger lets you go either

[thetemptationofchocolate]

YANBU.

I got stuck in the middle of the road once. I was on a pedestrian refuge but I was there for about ten minutes before someone took pity on me and stopped their car so I could cross. At the time I was on crutches so couldn't dash across in the usual fashion.

[InsufficientlyCaffeinated]

Yep near me there are several fast junctions where at every light cycle traffic is coming from one direction or another, no light cycle at all to stop all traffic so that pedestrians can cross. People often don't bother indicating either so you can't tell if lack of indication means safe to cross or if they are going to drive in to you and blast their horns. Also hate how roads are wide and curved at the end to allow fast turning of traffic but makes it less safe for pedestrians. Basically hate car dominant design in general. And how drivers think that when somebody is crossing it is acceptable to carry on driving at full speed while blasting their horn. The highway code says that a pedestrian has right of way no matter what the traffic lights but drivers never respect this and would rather see somebody standing in a dangerous position than slow for a second to let them cross. Could rant all day about this

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Glad I am not alone!

So - what can we do about it? Who do we complain to? I genuinely think it is dangerous and not 'progress' as they seem to claim.

[elliejjtiny]

YANBU. I haven't noticed any changes recently where we live though, it's always been a nightmare. We live next to an A road and it takes 20 mins to get across. Residents have been asking for a crossing since a 5 year old died crossing that road about 50 years ago.

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Also - does anyone know what the official term is for the stupid raised things? Need to know that in order to make official complaint

[Catphrase]

Thetemptation that's awful! I've done a 5 minute wait (longer than my entire walk to school should be) but not to let you go on crutches. That's awful.

The thing that gets me is half the time they just need to ease up and you could cross, not even change down or brake.

And yes to the Beeping at you as they turn into a road they've not checked is clear.

[InsufficientlyCaffeinated]

I complain to my council traffic and roads dept and my MP but they respond as if they think I'm an anti-progress crackpot. Maybe I am if wanting to get around my local community safely is anti-progress

[Catphrase]

I guess the problem is until someone gets hit or there's x amount of car accidents to prove the raised things don't work they won't change it.

[Rinceoir]

It's happening in my area too OP (north London) and I don't like it either. It's a pain when out with a toddler.

[SmallGreenBouncyBall]

tfl is in charge of traffic signage in london.
major changes require planning permission at council level. dunno if I can dig out a link.

[lostincumbria]

I love zebra crossings - most sensible solution invented.

[SmallGreenBouncyBall]

not in our area where many drivers win their license in the lottery ignore pedestrians at a zebra crossing and even a red light at a pelican crossing is sometimes regarded as 'optional'

[NotdeadyetBOING]

So true. Cars do tend to stop at red lights, at least. Next up are zebra crossings (at least they accept they are supposed to stop. But the raised things come way down the bottom of and seem to be ignored by pretty much all drivers.

And it's all very well making the valid point that as a pedestrian it is 'your right of way' but that's not a lot of use when you have been run over.

[AlpacaLypse]

I'm currently using a pair of walking sticks and I must say I've noticed the traffic has tended to stop for me and wave me over. But whether that would happen if it was a much busier area or at a point where drivers are already having to look in six directions simultaneously is another matter.

[CheshireChat]

What I don't really get is why they're making it difficult for the most vulnerable person aka the pedestrian. This reminds me of the Tesco car park near me and it's a nightmare. Sure, one car might let you cross but it some instances you would need another 3/4 to do the same. I'd be fuming if it happened in the city centre.

[ProfessionalChameleon2]

Hey Notdead, I also don't like these 'shared areas' as they are incredibly difficult to manage for people with a wide range of disabilities. I'm not sure if they still do it but the charity Guide Dogs used to like to be alerted to these schemes and then they would challenge on discrimination grounds. If I remember correctly they led a group of charities representing a lot of different people who are completely unable to use these areas as all of the usual cues and rules don't exist. Might be worth dropping them a line as I imagine they would still be interested.