4 ms·

I don't get it. How often do you need to cross diagonally? I live in a grid city and so traveling to another point on the grid usually involves needing to do X

by tgb 9y ago

I don't get it. How often do you need to cross diagonally? I live in a grid city and so traveling to another point on the grid usually involves needing to do X moves North-South and Y moves East-West. You opportunistically cross whichever direction you happen to get at the light until you only have one direction left. This means almost no waiting time while needing to walk diagonally. What's the use case for these?

greeneggs 9y ago
The idea is that cars don't have to worry about pedestrians. It speeds up traffic and lets drivers text safely. Meanwhile pedestrians get to stand and wait 50% longer at every intersection, because their time doesn't matter. But the idea is somehow sold as "pedestrian friendly," so for politicians it is a win-win.
- rahkiin 9y ago
  As a European, there are a couple of things in here that I don't understand. 1) how is texting while driving legal and how can it even be considered 'safe'? 2) Why does a driver not look around for people who cross roads outside green lights or outside actual crossings? 3) don't drivers need to look at the car in front of them? How can they keep distance when texting? What do pedestrian-changes changes about this?
  - MereInterest 9y ago
    In most places, it counts as "distracted driving", and is not legal. However, it is rarely enforced, and many people do so anyways. Whenever I see a car weaving in and out of its lane, I like to guess whether they are drunk or texting, because the two have similar effects on driving ability.
  - kwhitefoot 9y ago
    I think you missed the sarcasm.
juiyout 9y ago
You are thinking as one individual. If there are constantly groups of hundreds of people needing to cross, a scramble makes walker experience that much better. Famous Shibuya Crossing: http://for91days.com/photos/Tokyo/Shibuya%20Crossing%20Tokyo/Shibuya%20Crossing%20Tokyo%20%2003%2020140504%20www.for91days.com%20DSC00492.JPG http://for91days.com/photos/Tokyo/Shibuya%20Crossing%20Tokyo...

by tgb 9y ago

greeneggs 9y ago

The idea is that cars don't have to worry about pedestrians. It speeds up traffic and lets drivers text safely. Meanwhile pedestrians get to stand and wait 50% longer at every intersection, because their time doesn't matter. But the idea is somehow sold as "pedestrian friendly," so for politicians it is a win-win.

rahkiin 9y ago
As a European, there are a couple of things in here that I don't understand. 1) how is texting while driving legal and how can it even be considered 'safe'? 2) Why does a driver not look around for people who cross roads outside green lights or outside actual crossings? 3) don't drivers need to look at the car in front of them? How can they keep distance when texting? What do pedestrian-changes changes about this?
- MereInterest 9y ago
  In most places, it counts as "distracted driving", and is not legal. However, it is rarely enforced, and many people do so anyways. Whenever I see a car weaving in and out of its lane, I like to guess whether they are drunk or texting, because the two have similar effects on driving ability.
- kwhitefoot 9y ago
  I think you missed the sarcasm.

juiyout 9y ago

You are thinking as one individual. If there are constantly groups of hundreds of people needing to cross, a scramble makes walker experience that much better. Famous Shibuya Crossing: http://for91days.com/photos/Tokyo/Shibuya%20Crossing%20Tokyo/Shibuya%20Crossing%20Tokyo%20%2003%2020140504%20www.for91days.com%20DSC00492.JPG http://for91days.com/photos/Tokyo/Shibuya%20Crossing%20Tokyo...