Green phases that are far too short irritate pedestrians and pose a danger to passers-by. There are a few such exciting intersections in Vienna – we have the most absurd ones for you here.
Who doesn’t know it? As a pedestrian you wait at a traffic light, it turns green and you try to reach the other side of the street. But what if the green phase is too short to cross?
Like in the Brigittenauer Lände/corner Heiligenstädter Brücke, right next to the editorial office “Krone” in Döbling. The green phase lasts measured 7.7 (!) seconds. Then the traffic light is already flashing.
The corner of Schwarzenbergplatz on the Kärntner Ring in the city is also notorious. Here too, the green phase is far too short at 10.5 seconds. An intersection here quickly becomes an obstacle course. The same applies to the traffic lights at Nordbahnstrasse/Bruno-Marek-Allee.
Stress and negative interactions between pedestrians and motorists are therefore often unavoidable. Seniors, children and people with walking disabilities in particular suffer from the sometimes absurd switching of traffic lights.
There are also several affected intersections in the Danube city where pedestrians clearly have priority, reports FPÖ city councilor Toni Mahdalik. For example, on Groß Enzersdorfer Straße/Haberlantgasse. A corner with many pedestrians. “If you press the button too late, life punishes you,” complains the freedom activist.
Cross the intersection at red light to catch the bus
But the pedestrian traffic light does not automatically turn green when traffic is flowing. Especially people who are trying to reach the bus stops of bus lines 97A and 26A often cross when the light is red to quickly reach the bus.
The VCÖ (Austrian Transport Club) is also aware of the problem. Unfortunately, pedestrian traffic lights often do not take sufficient account of elderly people or people with reduced mobility. Red phases that are too long or green phases that are too short are a common problem with pedestrian traffic lights.
A person with reduced mobility takes 19 seconds to transfer
“Traffic lights often mean long waiting times for pedestrians. While the red phases are very long, the green phases are often too short,” says VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky. Research shows that a person with severe mobility problems needs 19 seconds, almost four times as long as a teenager.
If the pedestrian traffic light changes from green to red while crossing, pedestrians are allowed to continue crossing the road (Section 76, paragraph 3, StVO), but this is a very stressful situation, especially for older people. “In addition, if there is a shelter island, you can only continue on it, which means that pedestrians are exposed to exhaust fumes. And waiting on a shelter island is anything but pleasant, especially for parents with small children,” says the spokesman. VCÖ expert.
Since 2022, the Road Traffic Regulations explicitly stipulate that traffic lights must take into account the “needs of pedestrians to be able to cross after a short waiting time and without haste”. Accordingly, longer green phases and shorter red phases must be implemented for pedestrian traffic lights and older seniors must also be taken into account, emphasizes the mobility organization VCÖ.
“Crown”: Ms Jens, you have been Vienna’s pedestrian representative for twelve years. Why are some traffic lights green for so short a time for passers-by?
Petra Jens: Traffic lights are a classic cause of inconvenience. We always get the complaint that green phases are too short. There is also a so-called clearing phase. After the green flashes, pedestrians see red, but in this phase they can cross the road calmly.
How many complaints do you receive per year?
At the mobility office we receive 50 to 150 reports per year.
Many Viennese wonder what their work is for. Why do we hear so little about you publicly?
I can’t quite understand that. I do at least one interview a week. My name may not always appear. But we communicate constantly on the subject of walking.
Do you also know of a “problem traffic light”? Then write to us at Kronen Zeitung, Muthgasse 2, 1190 Vienna, Vienna editorial office or by e-mail to wien@kronenzeitung.at
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
