CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: What happens if you turn off the traffic lights? http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: What happens if you turn off the traffic lights? en Sun, 31 May 2026 16:12:06 +0000 gembo on "What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18166#post-261379 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:13:21 +0000 gembo 261379@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I know of a traffic light junction near Balerno where if the lights are out it is a much quieter neighbourhood, less revving, slower driving etc.</p> <p>Got to hand it to the dutchies for pushing the envelope and passing it on the right hand side </p> crowriver on "What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18166#post-261360 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 13:25:31 +0000 crowriver 261360@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>See also: Roundabouts.</p> <p>That's one example of what happens when you turn off the traffic lights.</p> <p>Nice for drivers of motor vehicles, hellish for everyone else. </p> Roibeard on "What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18166#post-261349 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 11:42:00 +0000 Roibeard 261349@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15889&amp;page=8#post-261315">Cross posting</a> the thread drift from elsewhere...</p> <p><em>What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?</em></p> <p>Drivers will bully their way through.</p> <p>The only places this work are where motorised vehicles are in a low percentage (how low?) compared to other travel modes.</p> <p>Check it out with any UK signal controlled junction when the signals fail - do you see a pedestrian phase? Or do you see pedestrians sprint through gaps?</p> <p>Or consider the priority a pedestrian has when crossing a side street - how many dare to exercise that priority and how many are punished (horns, revving, "nudging", sworn at) for daring to exercise it? And when they do exercise that priority, it's with an apologetic sprint or wave?</p> <p>Contrast this on the roads surrounding a stadium after the match/show/whatever - the overspill of pedestrians into the streets means drivers are contrite.</p> <p>Basically, as long as drivers outnumber active travellers at the junction, then drivers will rule the junction.</p> <p>See also "shared space" which is found in access only roads in the Netherlands, and is attempted on thoroughfares in the UK...</p> <p>Robert </p> paddyirish on "What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18166#post-261344 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 11:12:53 +0000 paddyirish 261344@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Interesting read. I'd like to see that happening here, but doubt it...</p> <p>Saying that, the lights were turned off at the first Kirkliston crossroads (coming form SQ) this morning- no vehicles near me, so rode through as if they weren't there... </p> Snowy on "What happens if you turn off the traffic lights?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18166#post-261343 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 10:44:30 +0000 Snowy 261343@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2017/sep/22/what-happens-if-you-turn-off-the-traffic-lights">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2017/sep/22/what-happens-if-you-turn-off-the-traffic-lights</a> </p>