Dunedin is about to get two more “Barnes Dance” pedestrian crossings.
Barnes Dance crossings allow pedestrians to cross the road in all directions at once, including diagonally across
intersections. A flashing counter allows people to see how many seconds they have left to cross so they can avoid taking
chances and keep safe.
The change to Barnes Dance intersections by the Transport Agency is part of the central Dunedin one-way cycleway
project, driven by a desire to increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on these busy roads, following the death
of a cyclist in 2011 and another just a year later.
Dunedin City Council has installed eight Barnes Dance crossings in the past 18 months.
The Transport Agency’s Fulton Hogan team has begun the kerb work needed for a Barnes Dance crossing at Cumberland
Street/ Albany Street intersection in recent days.
“A second Barnes Dance will be installed in coming days at the Great King Street /Albany Street intersection, signalling
the completion of the Transport Agency’s SH1 Dunedin cycleway. All the work on both intersections should be completed in
about three weeks,” says Transport Agency Senior Project Manager Simon Underwood.
Special features
At Great King Street/Albany Street, a display of an image of a bicycle will show cyclists emerging from Great King
Street (the Captain Cook corner) that they can also use the Barnes Dance to cross diagonally to the northbound cycle
lane to continue along Great King Street. Many university students use this intersection daily.
“At Cumberland Street/Albany Street, another busy pedestrian intersection, the change will provide better access for
cyclists travelling south on the cycleway, as the south-bound lane switches from the left-hand side of the highway to
the right. Currently, cyclists heading south have to cross at the pedestrian signals between the Link building and the
Museum Reserve,” says Mr Underwood.
“We encourage everyone to be considerate at these crossing points and for cyclists to slow down, bearing in mind that
pedestrians have the right of way at all pedestrian crossing points. Cyclists will still need to take care when crossing
diagonally and we encourage everyone to be courteous and make the most of the new cycle lanes and safer crossing
points.”
•For background on this project: https://nzta.govt.nz/projects/dunedin-sh1-cycle-lane-safety-improvements-project/?stage=Live
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