Waiting times at pedestrian crossings will be HALVED after lockdown to 15 seconds so people aren’t forced to queue together before the green man appears
- Manchester was the first city to introduce the measures at 1,000 of its crossings
- The average waiting time in the city is now 87 seconds from 106 seconds before
- Wiltshire Council followed, where times have been slashed from 30 to 15 secs
Waiting times at pedestrian crossings are being cut back in a bid to ensure walkers obey social distancing rules.
Manchester was the first city to introduce the measures – to avoid crowding and make sure people stay two-metres apart – at 1,000 of its crossings earlier this month.
The average waiting time in the city is now 87 seconds from 106 seconds before the change was put in place.
Wiltshire Council followed, where the time people have to wait for the green man to appear at crossings has been slashed from 30 seconds to just 15.
Waiting times at pedestrian crossings are being cut back in a bid to ensure walkers obey social distancing rules (stock image)
The plan will first be implemented in the city before being introduced to more rural areas, the council said.
Transport for Greater Manchester said the city will see the changes first, but in off-peak times only.
This should ensure that roads stay clear during peak hours.
TfGM’s highways network performance manager Richard Dolphin told The Daily Telegraph: ‘This change was put in place to reflect the current traffic conditions.
‘With much lower traffic volumes on our roads, we can run the signals in a way better suited for pedestrians, without causing any delays for traffic.
‘For those who are taking essential journeys on foot, these changes mean people are less likely to group together at pedestrian crossings, helping them keep safe and maintain social distancing.’
The measures will avoid crowding and make sure people stay two-metres apart. Pictured: A busy London crossing last year (stock image taken April, 2019)
The coronavirus pandemic has led to cities across the country introducing new measures to ensure social distancing.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan this month unveiled drastic new plans for London’s streets to accommodate a ten-fold increase in cycling and five-fold increase in walking when lockdown restrictions are eased.
Under his ‘London Streetspace’ programme the Mayor of London will ban vehicles from town centres, widen pavements and build more cycle lanes.
Mr Khan said the crisis has had a ‘profound impact’ on London’ transport network, and ‘will continue to do so long into the future.’
Manchester was the first city to introduce the measures – to avoid crowding to make sure people stay two-metres apart – at 1,000 of its crossings earlier this month (stock image)
He warns the Tube will have to be reduced to between 13 to 20 per cent of pre-crisis levels – even with close to 100 per cent of trains running, with strict queuing systems.
The Mayor also said double decker buses could be reduced from carrying 85 passengers to just 15.
He wrote: ‘It’s an inescapable fact that no mass transport system of the scale we have in London can operate at full capacity while maintaining social distancing at all times.
‘Even with Tube ridership standing at just five per cent at the moment, there are times when passengers struggle to keep their distance.’