[17/06/2009] Dublin - North Quays closed until further notice

walzer

markpb wrote: »

I asked DCC about this ages ago and, again, it's because of their policy of prioritising cars.

Well you can argue about the technical issues till the cows come home, but the above statement just says it all. As long as they prioritise cars, pedestrians will come second. At least the DCC are honest.

I came back here from living in continental Europe for over 6 years, and it was as obvious as the nose on your face that pedestrians come bottom of the list in Dublin. It's not just at traffic lights; in most continental countries at any junction without traffic lights where a car is turning, it will give way to pedestrians. According to Irish rules, they only have to give way if a pedestrian is already crossing. And in practice, they hardly give way at all.

bk

You know it is very strange to me that DCC prioritise cars over pedestrians.

DCC makes most of their money from rates paid by city center business, who make most of their money from passing foot traffic. Most of the cars are just driving through the city and not stopping. So it make no sense for them to prioritise cars.

walzer

I suppose the reality is you can slow down pedestrians (with red lights) quite a lot and pedestrian traffic will still move. But if you block car traffic, when there are already too many cars, the streets will just grind to a halt. It's an easy option.

murphaph

In Germany (and elsewhere) all traffic (vehicular and pedestrian) in a given direction gets a simultaneous green and pedestrians have priority over vehicular traffic in such situations. It mean there are never phases when all vehicular traffic is stopped to allow peds to cross.

This system totally depends on good driving and responsible pedestrians of course.

MOH

walzer wrote: »

I suppose the reality is you can slow down pedestrians (with red lights) quite a lot and pedestrian traffic will still move. But if you block car traffic, when there are already too many cars, the streets will just grind to a halt. It's an easy option.

Slow down pedestrians with red light too much and they'll start taking chances against the lights, which leads to accidents.

walzer

MOH wrote: »

Slow down pedestrians with red light too much and they'll start taking chances against the lights, which leads to accidents.

Agreed - shame DCC seem to prioritise traffic movement over this safety aspect.

L1011

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

He's using his handphone?

Generally not. Just too dozy to notice a directional green appear from within a bank of red. Followed by everyone behind them giving them far too much chance to see it before beeping.

Capt'n Midnight

MYOB wrote: »

TfLs lights however give the orange pre-notification for going green which means traffic gets off quicker. We lose 10-15 seconds of each sequence at a direct pedestrian crossing and more at a junction due to drivers not getting ready until they see green. Put on the orange light and they could easily cut some green time away.

This does not increase car through put because there are less amber gamblers because they know the others will be coming through the junction earlier. Is this worth considering too ?