Fed up of pedestrian crossings that don’t give enough time to cross?
Transport for All
Four out of five older people can’t cross the road...
Four out of five older people can’t cross the road at the lights.
That was the shocking finding of a study by Dr Laura Asher of UCL, initially published in the journal Age and Ageing. Asher’s study, published last year, found that the Goverment guidelines for time to cross require a minimum walking speed of 1.2 metres per second. However, 76% of men and 85% of women age 65 and over have a walking speed that is well below this. People with reduced mobility, old and young, are being put in danger by unreasonable crossing times. Asher attacked the Mayor’s Smoothing Traffic Flow agenda, which has reduced pedestrian crossing phases at crossings all over London.
That’s why we’re joining up with the campaign group Living Streets to call on the Department for Transport to change their guidelines on minimum crossing times from 1.2metres / second to 0.8 metres / second.
1. Write to your your MP
Living Streets have put together a template letter for you to edit and personalise. You can find out who your MP is and how to contact them the website www.writetothem.org.uk. Please do personalise your letter. How are you affected by crossings that don’t allow enough time to cross? Is there a crossing you use where the pedestrian phase is dangerously short?
2) Hold a local safer crossings action
Part of a local pensioner forum, Transport Action Group or disabled people’s organisation? Consider holding your own local action at a crossing in your borough. Please get in touch if you’re planning a local action, we’d love to help promote it to TfA members!
Seeking inspiration? Elder’s Voice in Brent made this wonderful video urging Boris Johnson to ensure long enough to cross!
The UK has an ageing population, but the DfT’s assumed walking speed hasn’t been amended since the 1950s. Government guidance on signal controlled crossings is due to be reviewed next year. Disabled and older people are being put in danger by the current minimum times, and deterred from getting out and about and staying active. It’s time that crossing times were made safe for everyone.
