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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

London pedestrians will have to walk faster under Boris Johnson plan


Apparently Boris has a plan for digital signs that count down the seconds until cars to get a green light. They are to be used alongside a reduction in crossing times.

At first when I read this, I must admit to scoffing somewhat into my cereals and thinking it seemed to fly in the fae of making cities more people friendly. Then I reframed and wondered if it's such a bad thing after all. Right now, I'm not sure.

What do you think?

Read the full story here.

Tags for Forum Posts: Boris Johnson, boris, road safety

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Having used crossings like this in the states I think it makes sense as it may make things safer. Not sure about the reduction in time though...........
The thing is that it encourages car drivers to think that they are "the" users of the road.

I had some idiot (SX06BXS) in Pitfield Street last week telling me to use the cycle lane and trying to run me off the road. Honestly, that cycle lane is a contra-flow and I am JUST as entitled to use the road as he is anyway.

He's been car, car, motorbike ever since he got in. Why the hell wasn't he riding around Ealing on his bike at the weekend?
Think drag strip, engines reving, tyres a smokin' ... 5,4, (driver's heart is racing) 3,2,1 ... GO!
To claim that one of the aims of improving traffic flow is environmental is ridiculous. It is tacked on as an afterthought as an unconvincing bit of window dressing. The policy is about allowing more cars more freedom to drive around London. It is the antithesis of an environmental policy.
The only benefit of gridlock is that it might get bad enough that some people give up on trying to drive in London. By "keeping traffic moving" you are encouraging more people to drive in London, in the same way that building new roads simply generates more traffic.
Shaving a few seconds off idling times is neither here nor there.
We need fewer cars on the roads. Any policy which doesn't have this at its core is a dangerous waste of time.
Carbon emissions from cars are a significant contributor to global warming.
"Scientists at a climate change summit in Copenhagen say changes in the polar ice sheets could raise sea levels by a metre or more by 2100. Ten per cent of the world's population - about 600 million people - live in vulnerable areas."
That's from todays paper.
We don't have time to faff about with ways to improve the driving conditions in London. We need fewer cars on the road.
I do understand your point of view. I think that where we differ is in how we rate the importance of cars in a London transport policy. From my point of view, it would be better to make it less convenient to drive a car around urban London. Fewer cars on the roads would create more space for public transport, service vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. I believe that these groups should take priority over private car use. I don't think that there will be much interest in the bike hire scheme or the cycle highways while there is still so much traffic on the roads.
Should build tunnel delivery system for freight into London. Trucks go to various points on M25 to have freight loaded onto underground freight trains, which then stop at freight stations as it goes into central London.

Build central freight station at old Battersea power station site. Freight picked up by electric trucks of various sizes from freight stations (local or central) and taken to businesses/homes.

Ban all other vehicles not electric or for passenger taxi services. Create car hire stations at various points around M25 for those wishing to travel beyond London by car, if not by train.

Close all roads to vehicles (except electric taxis & freight delivery) opening them up to pesdestrians, cyclists and of course children wanting somewhere to play after school.

Building new system above would create much needed jobs.
I'd vote for that, Matt
Building new system above would create much needed jobs And vastly increase transport costs, to be passed on to the consumer ?
I thought we weren't allowed to create new jobs, such as more drivers to man the double deckers ?
Something I don't understand here. If the digital countdown gives traffic the green light at zero seconds, at which point is it safe for your pedestrian to dare stepping off the pavement and striking out for the opposite side?
Article on the BBC website today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7939353.stm

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