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You've reminded me that there's a five-way intersection next to Uni Graz. Some years ago they basically removed all traffic signals and most signs, basically c
by Quequau 7y ago
You've reminded me that there's a five-way intersection next to Uni Graz. Some years ago they basically removed all traffic signals and most signs, basically ceding the whole area to priority for pedestrians. When I first came across it the apparent chaos was a little concerning but after walking through that place on more than one occasion I was surprised how well it worked. I've not actually been to that part of town in some time, so now I wonder if it's still like that.
I'm not sure that would work in many, much less every intersection but it really made me stop and question what sort of unrecognised assumptions I had about traffic safety. This stuff is important and I think there's way to many rules and practices that are in place because of assumptions that got made back in the dawn of time... it's likely that they're not correct now but it's even possible that they were never really correct. We need evidence based policies and not so-called common wisdom.
- ChuckNorris89 7y agoThat intersection[1] works so well without signs by accident not by design, since it's in the most central and densest part of the city with lots of cafes that's crawling with students and cyclists coming from every direction so drivers have no choice but to drive slowly and carefully. They can't replicate this in other parts outside the city center where cars pick up speed. [1]https://maps.app.goo.gl/WeN2Q2MhVdA8Y1RK8 https://maps.app.goo.gl/WeN2Q2MhVdA8Y1RK8
- flicken 7y agoYes, the intersection is alive and well without traffic signals. That's my favorite intersection in Graz, the five-way intersection of Zinzendorfgasse, Halbärthgasse, Schubertstrasse, Leechgasse, and Beethovenstrasse. The Google Maps street view has a nice view of pedestrians, bikes, and cars sharing the intersection. Buses also use the intersection, but I couldn't find any in the Google Maps view. https://www.google.com/maps/@47.0761111,15.4503833,3a,75y,310.35h,78.5t/data=!3m10!1e1!3m8!1sNQqWa8zA7uivnnKKuMYp5g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DNQqWa8zA7uivnnKKuMYp5g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D128.75166%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i38 https://www.google.com/maps/@47.0761111,15.4503833,3a,75y,31... My second favorite intersection is on the left side of Erzherzog-Johann-Brücke, where pedestrians, bikes, trams, and cars intersect with only one traffic sign (northwards on Neutorgasse). https://www.google.com/maps/@47.0710439,15.4355343,3a,75y,207.92h,86.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWXXhPAmZK6wuW0tEuo6Yeg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@47.0710439,15.4355343,3a,75y,20...