The Dept of Transport are useless on this. They say that because "Art Crossings" are not actually official crossings, despite pedestrians and some other road users thinking that they are, they are not covered by Traffic Sign Regulations:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/rainbow_crossings_traffic_sign_r/response/2391420/attach/html/4/22573.pdf.html
Rainbow Crossings: Traffic Sign Regulations and General Directions 2016
14 August 2023
Dear M Panton
Freedom of Information Act request – F0022573
Thank you for your information request of 16 July. You requested Information
regarding rainbow crossings and other types of road art.
All formal pedestrian crossings are regulated by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD). This includes zebras, puffins, toucans,
equestrian crossings and pedestrian facilities at junctions. TSRGD prescribes the signs, signals and markings that must be used to create the different types of crossing. A ‘rainbow crossing’ is not a specific crossing type and the term has no agreed definition, but it may refer to the use of coloured surfacing within the studs of a formal signal controlled crossing. It may also refer to the use of coloured surfacing to create an informal or uncontrolled crossing, at which as with a pedestrian refuge, there is no priority in law for pedestrians over vehicles.
It is a long-standing position that in the Department’s view, coloured surfacing is not considered a traffic sign or road marking and therefore does not come within the scope of the TSRGD. It has no legal meaning and therefore could be placed within the crossing studs at a formal signal-controlled crossing, or pedestrian facility at a junction. I attach a copy of the current standard line used in response to queries on the use of coloured surfacing at formal crossings.
You asked: ‘if “Rainbow Crossings” are not considered by the Dept for
Transport to be traffic signs or road markings under the Traffic Sign
Regulations and General Directions 2016, are they therefore exempt from
Rules 191 – 199 of the Highway Code?’
Rules 191-199 apply to formal controlled crossings, whether or not coloured
surfacing is present.
You asked: ‘if “Rainbow Crossings” are not considered by the Dept for
Transport to be traffic signs or road markings under the Traffic Sign
Regulations and General Directions 2016, are they therefore also not covered by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Part III, Section 25 “Pedestrian crossing regulations”?’
The status of a ‘rainbow crossing’ is described above. TSRGD contains the
regulations made under section 25 of RTRA 1984. Section 25 applies to zebra and puffin crossings, both of which are prescribed in TSRGD. There are no other pedestrian crossing regulations.
Technical advice on designing formal and informal crossings is given in Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual. Under section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to provide information which is already reasonably accessible to you. Chapter 6 can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual