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> In the UK almost all junctions have either people crossing, or cars turning, but not both at the same time. This sounds super strange from a continental Euro

> In the UK almost all junctions have either people crossing, or cars turning, but not both at the same time. This sounds super strange from a continental European standard as well. Do you mean that cars and pedestrians are never crossing these intersections at the same time? In any case, the UK also has at least a few cities where pedestrians often have no dedicated signal and are (in these junctions) left to fend for themselves while crossing due to the lack of signals and lack of priority. I don’t understand that situation at all.

chrisseaton 5y ago
> Do you mean that cars and pedestrians are never crossing these intersections at the same time? Well yeah... because that'd be dangerous if they went at the same time wouldn't it?
- vinay427 5y ago
  No. Have you visited cities in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, etc.? Most larger intersections have several crossings (1-2 on each side) that are signaled appropriately to allow pedestrians, cars, and often trams and/or bicycles simultaneous but separate right-of-way. In my experience, it’s nearly always clear to everyone where they can go while moving traffic around quite efficiently. The UK system seems to either keep pedestrians entirely separate or throw them into the deep end with car-prioritized signaling. (However, the latter may only be in the city I’m in at the moment, as I at least haven’t seen this in London.)
  - chrisseaton 5y ago
    Seems bonkers to me to have people and cars in the same space at the same time. You mention right of way but it's no comfort to me that I have right of way over a car when the car is trying to push through or running me over!
    - kelnos 5y ago
      > Seems bonkers to me to have people and cars in the same space at the same time. That seems pretty unavoidable to me, considering we put sidewalks right next to roads. As a pedestrian, I don't want to wait for both directions of traffic to have their turns to cross before I get mine. Though it can be handy if I need to cross diagonally.
Glawen 5y ago
Pedestrians in the UK need to wait until all traffic are red, then they can cross the junction (even diagonally). This is indeed different from continental Europe, as a pedestrian I kinda preferred the system in the UK, but you could wait quite a long time.

chrisseaton 5y ago

> Do you mean that cars and pedestrians are never crossing these intersections at the same time? Well yeah... because that'd be dangerous if they went at the same time wouldn't it?

vinay427 5y ago
No. Have you visited cities in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, etc.? Most larger intersections have several crossings (1-2 on each side) that are signaled appropriately to allow pedestrians, cars, and often trams and/or bicycles simultaneous but separate right-of-way. In my experience, it’s nearly always clear to everyone where they can go while moving traffic around quite efficiently. The UK system seems to either keep pedestrians entirely separate or throw them into the deep end with car-prioritized signaling. (However, the latter may only be in the city I’m in at the moment, as I at least haven’t seen this in London.)
- chrisseaton 5y ago
  Seems bonkers to me to have people and cars in the same space at the same time. You mention right of way but it's no comfort to me that I have right of way over a car when the car is trying to push through or running me over!
  - kelnos 5y ago
    > Seems bonkers to me to have people and cars in the same space at the same time. That seems pretty unavoidable to me, considering we put sidewalks right next to roads. As a pedestrian, I don't want to wait for both directions of traffic to have their turns to cross before I get mine. Though it can be handy if I need to cross diagonally.

Glawen 5y ago

Pedestrians in the UK need to wait until all traffic are red, then they can cross the junction (even diagonally). This is indeed different from continental Europe, as a pedestrian I kinda preferred the system in the UK, but you could wait quite a long time.