Push buttons

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6 July, 2015 - 17:43
#1
Clive Durdle
Push buttons

The Tower Bridge Quietway Consultation conclusion states

 

"Cyclists will cross Tower Bridge Road at the same time as pedestrians. Both will have push buttons to ‘call’ the invitation to cross, and waiting times will be similar to those currently in operation. "

As I have a cargo trike for disability reasons, this will require me to stop, put the parking brakes on, get off the trike, move over to the signal, go back to the bike, sit down, get comfortable and move on before the green light for me has dissapeared.

I assume this is standard practice.

Doesn't feel right somehow.....

Submitted by Clive Durdle on 6 July, 2015 - 17:43
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6 July, 2015 - 20:42
eldering

If these push buttons are on poles that are specifically positioned to be easily reachable from the cycle path, it might not be such a problem, see Dutch examples here:

http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/04/delays-at-traffic-light-con...

http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2014/05/the-best-traffic-light-solu...

I'm pretty sure that people in mobility scooters can reach these without too much trouble. Then again, I don't know what the engineers in the UK have in mind.

Submitted by eldering on 6 July, 2015 - 20:42
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6 July, 2015 - 21:55
(Reply to #2)
Clive Durdle

That link is terrifying!  Buttons that don't do anything, completely unfair timing...

Submitted by Clive Durdle on 6 July, 2015 - 21:55
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6 July, 2015 - 21:56
(Reply to #3)
Clive Durdle

That link is terrifying!  Buttons that don't do anything, completely unfair timing...

Submitted by Clive Durdle on 6 July, 2015 - 21:56
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6 July, 2015 - 23:20
(Reply to #4)
eldering

I have a feeling we're not talking about the same things within these linked articles. In particular I wanted to point out the small black/white striped poles with yellow push buttons on them. These appear in the video in the first link and in some of the photos further down in the second link.

Also, I think the timing in the Dutch examples is more fair than most of what I've seen in the UK (for pedestrians that is, I don't remember ever having seen a light for cyclists only).

Submitted by eldering on 6 July, 2015 - 23:20
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7 July, 2015 - 17:01
(Reply to #5)
mjray
Most light pushbuttons in the UK seem to be placebos now, or at least have such a long delay that cycles can usually cross before the green man/bike is showing! Actually, that's just as well because pushbuttons are typically installed 0.5m back from the carriageway edge, while I sit about 1.4m behind the front of my cycle, so if the crossing is anything near perpendicular, I can't reach the button and remain balanced without my front wheel protruding into the carriageway, which isn't really safe.
Submitted by mjray on 7 July, 2015 - 17:01
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