Traffic Light Makes Pedestrians Dance
Many pedestrians don’t like to wait even when the traffic light tells them to stop. Most would try to beat the red light to get to the other side so that they won’t have to wait a few seconds and let cars pass.
In Lisbon, Portugal, a solution for this has been implemented. Check out this traffic light stop that makes pedestrians dance while they wait for it to turn green and go.
Though we don’t have this facility in the Philippines yet, we have signs like this one below that guides pedestrians to safety. This sign is extremely widespread because many pedestrians would rather choose to cross on unsafe shortcuts rather than use the many footbridges available.
The sign reads “Walang tawiran. Nakamamatay. Para iwas sakuna, gamitin ang footbridge.” (Rough translation: Don’t cross here. It can be life-threatening/deadly. To avoid accidents, use the footbridge.)
(From: holy-kamote.blogspot.com)
Still, many pedestrians ignore this and choose to cross anyway.
(From: pinoyexchange.com)
(From: lakbaylansangan.blogspot.com)
(From: interaksyon.com)
These photos were readily available on the Internet and it seems many don’t heed what the sign says. Some may say they are in a rush that they can’t take the footbridge to cross, while some may just be plain lazy to walk up the footbridge. Maybe, intersections can have pedestrian lanes, but provide signs to guide crossing pedestrians. But the MMDA has probably considered this too, we are not sure.
Anyway, in one part of Metro Manila, the MMDA closed many U-Turn slots along C5 to implement the One Truck Lane policy. This opened intersections for motorists while this also allowed pedestrians to cross along intersections when the vehicles stops. However, there is not enough signs to guide pedestrians crossing in this area. It would really be great to see a traffic light, similar to the one in Lisbon, here in Manila.
We already have dancing policemen manning many streets of Manila, so a traffic light that makes people dance might be a good idea.
Here’s one dancing traffic enforcer along Araneta Center.
What do you think?
Will a traffic light that makes pedestrians dance work here in Manila?
Share with us your thoughts.
Traffic Light Makes Pedestrians Dance
