Comments on: Streetfilms: Tap Foot, Lights Blink, Cross Street http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/18/streetfilms-tap-foot-lights-blink-cross-street/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: calwatch http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/18/streetfilms-tap-foot-lights-blink-cross-street/comment-page-1/#comment-4824 calwatch Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:33:02 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1887#comment-4824 El Monte has something similar on Garvey Avenue. They use CCTV cameras (the same one used for tripping traffic signals) that detect motion, which activates the pedestrian lights. Incidentally, traffic calming doesn't do much in the middle of the night. I've driven past speed humps at 65 mph before... it's mildly uncomfortable for the driver but that's about it. The best way to slow down traffic is simply to increase traffic density. El Monte has something similar on Garvey Avenue. They use CCTV cameras (the same one used for tripping traffic signals) that detect motion, which activates the pedestrian lights.

Incidentally, traffic calming doesn’t do much in the middle of the night. I’ve driven past speed humps at 65 mph before… it’s mildly uncomfortable for the driver but that’s about it. The best way to slow down traffic is simply to increase traffic density.

]]> By: angle http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/18/streetfilms-tap-foot-lights-blink-cross-street/comment-page-1/#comment-4819 angle Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:02:31 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1887#comment-4819 On one hand, it's great to see smart ideas being implemented to keep pedestrians safe. On the other, it's disheartening to think that it requires an elaborate system of flashing lights and embedded sensors just to allow pedestrians to cross a city street safely. What happens when increasingly angry, careless and sleep-deprived motorists start to ignore the high-tech crosswalk? Wouldn't it be more effective in the long run to calm traffic on these roads? (This is known as "preaching to the choir.") On one hand, it’s great to see smart ideas being implemented to keep pedestrians safe. On the other, it’s disheartening to think that it requires an elaborate system of flashing lights and embedded sensors just to allow pedestrians to cross a city street safely. What happens when increasingly angry, careless and sleep-deprived motorists start to ignore the high-tech crosswalk? Wouldn’t it be more effective in the long run to calm traffic on these roads?

(This is known as “preaching to the choir.”)

]]> By: MarkB http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/03/18/streetfilms-tap-foot-lights-blink-cross-street/comment-page-1/#comment-4812 MarkB Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:49:48 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1887#comment-4812 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa has a lighted crosswalk. That installation has a bollard on the sidewalk edge at each of the four corners of the crosswalk. The bollards contain motion sensors aimed at each other along the sidewalk edge. A pedestrian stepping off the sidewalk will break the beam (so to speak) and initiate the light cycle. There's no need for the pedestrian to push a button or step on a particular square of pavement. Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa has a lighted crosswalk. That installation has a bollard on the sidewalk edge at each of the four corners of the crosswalk. The bollards contain motion sensors aimed at each other along the sidewalk edge. A pedestrian stepping off the sidewalk will break the beam (so to speak) and initiate the light cycle. There’s no need for the pedestrian to push a button or step on a particular square of pavement.

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