Why is there such a lack of zebra crossings in Swanage? It seems to me that they're needed in lots of little places especially to help children on their way to and from school, and to help older people be able to cross the road more slowly. Surely they're relativly cheap, just some paint and a lightbulb! Does anyone have any hotspots they think one would be useful?
Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 5:49 PM
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12 comments:
Why not ask Dorset County Council?
Do we have to cater for Zebras?
2 useful comments. Not.
The problem with Zebras is that the pedestrian has the right of way.
This of course means that the driver has to give way to let peds cross and they cost about £10K to install - the crossing, not the ped!
I believe in rights of way and get really annoyed when someone waiting at a Zebra thanks me for stopping to let them exercise their rights!
Controlled crossings give drivers the right of way until the lights turn red and cost about £35K to install.
Mind you, I´m looking forward to getting run over on a Zebra, cuz I´ve got a bloody good Lawyer.
I got run over on a zebra crossing as a child, is it too late to sue do you think?
Victoria Ave (by the old toilets) needs a zebra, cars go too fast there and it's a nightmare to cross safely. Also please can i have one outside Costcutters too while i'm at it, or somewhere along that stretch of High Street.Thank you.
A bargain at £10 grand each.
Swanage Transport Committee - part of STC - minutes May 2007
¨During discussion Members were informed that this issue has been included in proposals put to Dorset County Council by the MCTi Transport Working Group.
It was AGREED:
That Mrs Miles be informed that discussions regarding the issue of pedestrian safety in the area of ‘Cost Cutters’, High Street, Herston are ongoing and that the Town Council is awaiting a response from Dorset Conty council¨.
Now, please don´t be impatient, that was less than two years ago!
Come on, just do it!! someone local definately has some white paint! its just the black they need now.
If you want to trust your life to a lightbulb and a bit of paint - fine. I think that by and large - except on very busy thoroughfares, all crossings should be scrapped and pedestrians should be encouraged to look, listen, kepp looking and listening and cross when it's safe. It may be the driver's fault - it's the pedestrian's life.
back to the death alley debate....
Steve Darrington said: I used the Dorset For You website to ask the original question that started this post, and received the following reply from Dorset County Council.
Re: "Lack of zebra crossings in Swanage"
I'll try and answer what is quite an open question as best I can without getting too technical.
I wasn't aware that there is a lack of zebra crossings (or any other pedestrian crossing facilities for that matter), which has been confirmed by a colleague who lives in Swanage.
A zebra crossing costs in the region of £25,000 to introduce (not including staff time and the considerable amounts of time required as part of the design and consultation process). There is then the ongoing yearly maintenance on the zebra, which is around £600 per year. Thus, its not quite as easy as "some paint and a lightbulb" - but I'm sure you knew that anyway.
We install zebras at low speed sites. Where speeds are slightly higher, we prefer to install Puffin crossings which, although more expensive, are safer and provide a better crossing facility for both pedestrian and driver. A general cost for a Puffin would be around £75,000.
If the community feel that a specific location in Swanage would be better served by the installation of a formal controlled crossing (rather than just dropped kerbs), the best way to ask us to have a look is via the locally elected body, in this case Swanage Town Council. The town council will then write to us if they feel the request has merit.
I hope this helps.
Steve Howard, Team Leader - Network Traffic Management, Environmental Services, Dorset County Council
Steve Darrington adds:
By the way, I didn't ask the original queston on the post, I just wanted to know the answer!
Nice one Steve.
If you go back to my 5.58 post; it was agreed that STC would contact a Mr Miles at DCC.
STC said that they were awaiting a reply.
I wonder who´s not doing their job?
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