Pedestrian Crossing Experiment, January 1963

Comment by StephenBln on September 12, 2009 at 2:51

Hey.. notice the Maynards confectionery shop opposite! I'd forgotten about that...

Hugh, where did you the get date from...? the Controlled Area started later in 1963 o September 30th, so this might be January 1964 - although by the looks on the faces of the people, this photo was taken right at the beginning of the scheme.

The traffic signals may look cumbersome to 2009 eyes, but believe me, they were the last thing in modern technology at the time :o)

You can actually try out the signals and see how they worked on the link left by Hugh (above).

Comment by Hugh on September 12, 2009 at 9:35

Stephen, it's the date the Evening Standard say it was created. Could be an archiving mistake or perhaps there was a soft launch earlier than you realised?

Comment by StephenBln on September 12, 2009 at 11:17

No.. there were no soft launches in those days.. :o)

I think this is the opening day, why else would the Evening Standard be there?

The pedestrian railings are also look new.. the pedestrians themselves look bewildered, plus a safety barrier can also be seen - perhaps this was to hold back the crowds when conservative Transport Minister Ernest Marples visited..

BTW, By 'co-incidence' he also owned a road construction company and eventually had to flee the country! (don't get me started on tories and transport)

Comment by Hugh on September 12, 2009 at 11:20

Did you see the other photo I added this AM?

Comment by StephenBln on September 12, 2009 at 12:30

Yes, they are both great timepieces.. - Just one last point regarding the bewildered looking people.

The scheme wasn't particularly welcomed by the Harringay public at that time. It was considered a restriction of freedom 'to cross the road wherever you wanted'. Don't forget those 60-70 year olds in the photo, had probably lived all their lives in Harringay, being the children of the first 'pioneers' of the Gardens and Ladder.. and could remember the trams and horse and carts on Green Lanes and being able to cross the road anywhere as they wanted..

And a last point on Marples.. he's wasn't popular - cars used to have stickers 'Marples Must Go!' on them. Therefore the police presence and barrier.

Comment by brian granville on March 7, 2014 at 1:01

My Mum was in that video of Ernest Marples.  She's the one in the white mac crossing the road looking at her watch.  She had just had a heart operation, and wondered if she could get across the road in the alloted time.  My memory tells me she told Mr. Marples the time was too short, and that she would need more time.  I believe the time was lengthened by a few seconds.

Comment by Richard Woods on May 20, 2015 at 20:56

Only just found this. I recall doing this story for the Hornsey Journal and I reckon it was late 63 (I left in early 64) - the reporter with notebook is not me but I think I recognise him as a guy from the Tottenham Herald. My memory says these were called Pelican Crossings? What upset us locals was the barriers to stop us crossing anywhere we ruddy well pleased.... and it was a bit American as in Walk- Don't Walk!!!!!!

Comment by Hugh on April 29, 2024 at 8:56

New comment on this crossing added by andrew simmonds on another photo:

At North Harringay School we had a demonstration of these new crossings prior to them being installed. Memory precludes me having all the details, but I remember a approx. 1/2 scale crossing set up in the school playground with a real car, motorbike and bicycle. A number of children were selected as "guinea pigs" and a quite exciting demo was unleashed upon us. There was some screeching of tyres so this was ether for effect or they were trying to inject a bit of realism into the proceedings by running one of us over. Must have worked though i've never seen a dead pelican in the road. (sorry)

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