New zebra crossings being trialled in Cardiff have received a mixed reaction from residents. The 'simple zebra crossings' are being installed at three side roads across Llandaff North and Whitchurch as part of a Welsh Government-funded project.
Normal zebra crossings - known as 'prescribed' zebra crossings - have a series of alternate black and white stripes with give way lines on either side, Belisha beacons, studs outlining the crossing area and zigzag markings. The simplified 'non-prescribed' zebra crossings only have the black and white stripes and give way lines.
Cardiff Council is delivering the initiative. In FAQs explaining the trial, the council said the crossings are meant to encourage active travel like walking. The simplified design of the new crossings means they are cheaper to implement and maintain. They can also be installed more quickly and with minimal disruption.
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The lack of zigzag markings also means the crossings can be installed "on pedestrians' desired walking line, directly across the mouth of the junction," the FAQs added. They are being trialled at the junctions of Station Road/Evansfield Road and Station Road/Hawthorn Road East in Llandaff North, as well as the junction of Bishops Road/Merthyr Road in Whitchurch.
The aim of the pilot is to understand the "impacts and user perceptions" of the new crossings and decide whether to use them in future, the council said. The crossing at Whitchurch has already been installed, and the other sites will be painted in due course. But the scheme has already proven controversial, with residents split in their opinions.
Whitchurch resident Dan Allsobrook, 50, welcomed the installation of the crossing at the junction of Bishops Road/Merthyr Road. He thinks it will remind drivers that they must give way to pedestrians, as well as encourage them to adhere to the 20mph speed limit and pay more attention while driving.
"It’s very rare that drivers stop to give way at that junction when I’m crossing. I often see people trying to cross and drivers just shoot around the corner without even slowing down," he said. "I can remember several incidents where pedestrians have been hit by drivers on that corner - serious enough for an ambulance to have to attend.
"It is heavily used by elderly people and parents with kids as the Post Office is on the corner and it’s a direct route to both local primary schools and also Whitchurch High. From a driver’s perspective, when driving there's been a couple of times when I've stopped to give way and the driver behind me has tooted their horn impatiently."
Local mum Esther Chambers, 44, said she welcomed the installation at Station Road/Evansfield Road. "I hate crossing there, especially with my children. I think a trial will be good to see if it improves things."
She added: "It's difficult to cross as there is the junction with both Station Road and the junction with the train station, so potentially traffic coming from three different directions. There are also lots of double parked cars on Evansfield Road especially people parking to use the Co-operative shop. It makes it difficult to see clearly what traffic is coming down the road."
Penny Bowers, 63, was sceptical that the installations would be effective. "I think people are pleased [the] council are looking at it but I wonder if anyone really thinks a zebra crossing is going to work. It is like playing dodge ball with cars at that junction [Station Road/Evansfield Road]," she said.
Others were concerned about the proximity of the crossings to the junction. Lifelong Llandaff North resident Malcolm Baker, 62, said: "These crossings are accidents waiting to happen. It's an absolutely ridiculous idea placing crossings right on junctions - even worse when one of the roads is a very busy main road that carries hundreds of cars every day."
Meanwhile resident Alyson Hembury, 56, said the idea was "ridiculous", pointing out that there are already six crossings along Station Road. The trial comes after changes in the Highway Code in January this year gave more priority to pedestrians, with drivers turning into a junction now required to give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road.
Sensors have been installed at the trial locations to collect anonymised data on pedestrian and vehicle interactions, both before and after the crossings are installed, and user surveys will also be conducted. A report of the results will be published next year.
Current regulations do not provide a standard for simple zebra crossings to be installed at side roads in Wales. The trial outcome will help to decide whether to change these regulations to make it easier to install more crossings in such locations, as well as whether to retain the trial crossings in Cardiff.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We have commissioned a trial of simple zebra crossings at three locations around Cardiff. The aim of the trial is to understand the role the zebra crossings play in helping to create safer environments and encourage more people to walk."
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