A “Pelican Crossing”, or archaically “Pelicon Crossing” (PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled), is a type of pedestrian crossing with traffic signals for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic, activated by call buttons for pedestrians, with the walk signal being directly across the road from the pedestrian.
HYDERABAD: Pelican signals installed at major junctions in the city are not being utilised to the required levels by pedestrians and motorists, most of whom are oblivious of the signals and their functioning. This is despite the fact that they are essentially to ensure that pedestrians can cross roads in a hassle-free manner and avoid accidents.
First introduced iin the UK in 1969, A Pelican crossing, or archaically pelicon crossing (PEdestrian LIght CONtrolled), is a type of pedestrian crossing with traffic signals for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic, activated by call buttons for pedestrians, with the walk signal being directly across the road from the pedestrian.
“Puffin crossing” (its name derived from the phrase “Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent”) has become more popular than Pelican Crossing in the UK since 2016.
The signals set up across the city include at major junctions like Maitrivanam, Ameerpet crossroads, Botanical garden signal, Gachibowli and Shilparamam junction in Madhapur. Upon the pedestrian pressing a button, the pelican signal will turn red, thereby stopping traffic and allowing them to cross the road.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) set up 68 state-of-the-art pelican traffic signals in July across main squares around schools, colleges, and hospitals. Incidentally, 25 of them are yet to be inaugurated.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Thota Srinivas Rao, DCP (traffic) Cyberabad, said “the pelican signals are installed for a safe and trouble-free crossway for pedestrians. However, neither vehicle users nor pedestrians have any clue on how the signals work. We are trying to educate them in our traffic training institute and on social media.”
Besides the most commonly known ‘Zebra Crossing’, other variants of pedestrian crossings, that are either in existence or have been phased out around the world are “Toucan Crossing’, “Pegasus Crossing”, and “Pedestrian Scramble” and “Puffin Crossing. A comparable system similar to “Pelican” in use in the United States is called the HAWK beacon.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had set up 68 state-of-the-art pelican traffic signals in July across main squares around schools, colleges, and hospitals. Incidentally, 25 of them are yet to be inaugurated.
Toucan Crossing is the British term for a type of pedestrian crossing that also allows bicycles to be ridden across.[1] Since “two can” cross together (both pedestrians and cyclists) the name “toucan” was chosen.
A Pegasus crossing (United Kingdom; also equestrian crossing) is a type of signalised pedestrian crossing, with special consideration for horse riders. This type of crossing is named after the mythical winged horse, Pegasus. They are primarily used in the United Kingdom and Peru.
Puffin Crossings differ from Pelican crossings, as they do not have a flashing green man/flashing amber signal. The overall crossing time is established each time by on-crossing pedestrian detectors.
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