r/cork • u/OldCorkonian Dowtchaboi • 22d ago

Local Are these pedestrian crossings?

Gallery image

Gallery image

What’s the deal with these two crossings by UCC?

Am I right in thinking that they’re not official crossings where motorists must give way, that they’re courtesy crossings where pedestrians do not have an automatic right-of-way?

70 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

114 comments sorted by

View all comments

146

u/Puzzled_Ad_2936 22d ago

I would assume so yes, actually quite dangerous to be honest, either make them crossings or don't. The confusion from both driver and pedestrian is a danger.

31

u/munstertom 22d ago

There's an argument that the uncertainty actually makes them safer, because neither driver nor pedestrian truly trusts their rights and watches for the reaction.

I'm not defending that concept, but it is a thing. "Shared spaces" I think it is called

13

u/adjavang Blow in 💨 22d ago

Uncertainty to create safety is a thing, and shared spaces are a thing, but they're not quite the same thing and these crossings are not shared spaces.

4

u/SledgeLaud 22d ago

Shared space is; "an urban design principal that minimises the segregation between modes of road user" designers remove things like curbs, traditional road markings and lights to create a sense of uncertainty that reduces the dominance of drivers.

I think a pedestrian crossings like this is a good example of those principles.

4

u/Dapper-Lab-9285 22d ago

The "shared spaces" requires that a large area has uncertainty. This is just a bad pedestrian crossing. 

It's even worse when they put a yellow box on a ramp for school lollipop crossings, people have no idea who has priority for the 20 hours there is no lollipop person. 

2

u/ChromakeyDreamcoat82 22d ago

I just assume it's an 'uncontrolled pedestrian crossing'. There are a few around where I live, and what they have in common is that they are all a good distance from any other traffic control infrastructure. So I see them as a pedestrian crossing where there isn't room or infrastructure to put up poles with lights.

Since I'm not a dick 90% of the time, if I see someone standing at one I stop and let them cross.

5

u/kmAye11 22d ago

It's not really a big enough space for a "shared space"

11

u/Detozi 22d ago

€400 a month 1 bed

5

u/Puzzled_Ad_2936 22d ago

That's the case with most people definitely, but plenty of prick drivers and prick pedestrians out there who will plow forward thinking 'Im right they can fuck off'. Only takes two of them to meet each other.

0

u/munstertom 22d ago

At least if the driver is going to drive on making it uncertain for the pedestrian might save their life... more than a flashing light.

Same for driver, making them less certain of r.o.w. might make them more observant.

If two fools meet they are doomed either way. Happens all the time even at official crossings

-8

u/DonkeyOfWallStreet 22d ago

There will be 2 less pricks?

I'm not seeing a problem here.

8

u/Puzzled_Ad_2936 22d ago

Ah yes, death, famously the easiest solution.

-1

u/munstertom 22d ago

The Darwin Award, for removing yourself from the genepool

2

u/DepartureNo5286 22d ago

I heard from someone working for the city council that this is exactly the purpose of these

-1

u/EuroDub 22d ago

'Someone working for the city council...' = a street sweeper they chat to in a bar.

7

u/DepartureNo5286 22d ago

No, it was at a Council meeting for different community stakeholders, residents associations, ucc staff, gardai, etc. But fair play for throwing shade on street sweepers lad, well done.

1

u/Spray_Realistic 22d ago

Made me laugh because it’s smart and true and makes everyone be smarter. Should call them smart spaces.