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Transport for NSW, the government agency which controls traffic signal timing in Sydney and NSW, has an excellent stated goal of increasing walking and cycling

Transport for NSW, the government agency which controls traffic signal timing in Sydney and NSW, has an excellent stated goal of increasing walking and cycling trips – and reducing pedestrian wait times at intersections. However, there is no public data on traffic light timing in Sydney or NSW. I built this little React site to crowdsource measurements and inform where positive changes could be made - Sydney focused, but works anywhere in the world if you'd like to make use of it/fork it!

rozenmd 3y ago
I wonder if the $75 fine for jaywalking and NSW Police's love for issuing these fines are related to how long the timings are.
- robbiep 3y ago
  Just cross back from the crossing. It’s legal (?not illegal) to jaywalk in NSW if you are more than 20m from the nearest designated crossing, if you are not interfering with traffic (section 234). I’ve never met anyone who has received a fine for crossing at the wrong time?
  - rozenmd 3y ago
    Most folks in the city just walk through the red light when there's no traffic - I've seen them fine folks in waves around Central and Town Hall.
    - riekus 3y ago
      As an European which spend 4 years in Sydney recently I was always surprised at the opposite. Every after going out at midnight, Hurds of people would be waiting for a red light with no car/traffic in sight for a mile. I always jaywalk, feel particularly upset that a computer is telling me to wait for a save time, without context, while I can obviously tell it's save. Recently discussed this behaviour in Sydney, remember it was particularly bad around Surry hills
    - hilbert42 3y ago
      "just walk through the red light when there's no traffic" You can't blame them, it really is damn infuriating when nothing is coming. Same applies as a driver, if I could have back all the time I've waited for lights to change I reckon I'd be years younger. Sydney's traffic light system is brain-dead. Incidentally, years ago I was at a trade launch by a well known company and I found myself sitting next to a person who was one of the programmers for the traffic light system and I made the mistake of mentioning how bad the system was. Wow, he nearly took my head off, it was such as sensitive subject. He then proceeded to lecture me about how difficult the problem was and how good the local effort was compared with many other comparable cities.
- shric 3y ago
  I've lived in the Sydney CBD (Haymarket) for 10 years. I don't own a car because I don't need one. I jaywalk at every opportunity many times every day. I've never been fined for jaywalking. One time I was crossing the street with my wife near Town Hall against a red pedestrian light and I was smiling because of the conversation. We were walking toward two uniformed NSW Police officers whom I failed to notice as I was looking out for traffic when crossing the street. One of them, in her twenties, snapped at me like I was a naughty child (I'm around 50) with "you have the nerve to smile while illegally crossing? I could fine you you know". I didn't want a fine so stopped smiling and apologised and continued on my way. That said occasionally there is a coordinated session where they hang out at specific intersections waiting to fine people but they don't try to hide themselves (usually there's a parked police motorcycle on one corner of the intersection, etc.)
  - rozenmd 3y ago
    When you're a uni student, they don't hesitate, they just fine you.
joppy 3y ago
Thanks for making this! I’ve found that as a pedestrian in Sydney, up to half my walking time is spent waiting for traffic lights, and have always wondered what could be done about it.
- hilbert42 3y ago
  "...up to half my walking time is spent waiting for traffic lights," Amen. ...And often when no traffic is coming.

rozenmd 3y ago

I wonder if the $75 fine for jaywalking and NSW Police's love for issuing these fines are related to how long the timings are.

robbiep 3y ago
Just cross back from the crossing. It’s legal (?not illegal) to jaywalk in NSW if you are more than 20m from the nearest designated crossing, if you are not interfering with traffic (section 234). I’ve never met anyone who has received a fine for crossing at the wrong time?
- rozenmd 3y ago
  Most folks in the city just walk through the red light when there's no traffic - I've seen them fine folks in waves around Central and Town Hall.
  - riekus 3y ago
    As an European which spend 4 years in Sydney recently I was always surprised at the opposite. Every after going out at midnight, Hurds of people would be waiting for a red light with no car/traffic in sight for a mile. I always jaywalk, feel particularly upset that a computer is telling me to wait for a save time, without context, while I can obviously tell it's save. Recently discussed this behaviour in Sydney, remember it was particularly bad around Surry hills
  - hilbert42 3y ago
    "just walk through the red light when there's no traffic" You can't blame them, it really is damn infuriating when nothing is coming. Same applies as a driver, if I could have back all the time I've waited for lights to change I reckon I'd be years younger. Sydney's traffic light system is brain-dead. Incidentally, years ago I was at a trade launch by a well known company and I found myself sitting next to a person who was one of the programmers for the traffic light system and I made the mistake of mentioning how bad the system was. Wow, he nearly took my head off, it was such as sensitive subject. He then proceeded to lecture me about how difficult the problem was and how good the local effort was compared with many other comparable cities.
shric 3y ago
I've lived in the Sydney CBD (Haymarket) for 10 years. I don't own a car because I don't need one. I jaywalk at every opportunity many times every day. I've never been fined for jaywalking. One time I was crossing the street with my wife near Town Hall against a red pedestrian light and I was smiling because of the conversation. We were walking toward two uniformed NSW Police officers whom I failed to notice as I was looking out for traffic when crossing the street. One of them, in her twenties, snapped at me like I was a naughty child (I'm around 50) with "you have the nerve to smile while illegally crossing? I could fine you you know". I didn't want a fine so stopped smiling and apologised and continued on my way. That said occasionally there is a coordinated session where they hang out at specific intersections waiting to fine people but they don't try to hide themselves (usually there's a parked police motorcycle on one corner of the intersection, etc.)
- rozenmd 3y ago
  When you're a uni student, they don't hesitate, they just fine you.

joppy 3y ago

Thanks for making this! I’ve found that as a pedestrian in Sydney, up to half my walking time is spent waiting for traffic lights, and have always wondered what could be done about it.

hilbert42 3y ago
"...up to half my walking time is spent waiting for traffic lights," Amen. ...And often when no traffic is coming.