Manly Beach: ‘Floating ‘3D’ zebra crossings coming to seaside suburb
‘Floating’ 3D zebra crossings that ‘rise’ from the roadway are about to hit Sydney streets — but not everyone is happy with the idea. See what it means for motorists here.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Motorist making their way through a busy Sydney seaside suburb are set for a bit of a shock this week when they come across “floating” zebra crossings.
In a NSW first, three-dimensional panels are being painted onto busy beachside streets at Manly that give the illusion of the pedestrian crossings being formed out of chunky concrete blocks.
The trick of the eye also makes it appear that people are using the crossings like a stepping stone bridge.
Northern Beaches Council, in partnership with Transport for NSW, is hoping that installing three of the 3D crossings in high foot traffic areas near the famous tourist beach will slow motorists who think they are going to plough into hunks of stone.
Similar crossing are already operating interstate and overseas with councils using them in Melbourne, Darwin, Cairns and even the tiny Queensland outback town of Boulia.
The new crossings in Manly come just months after a 30kmh speed limit was introduced on the beachfront roads, South and North Steyne.
As part of the trial of the new traffic calming measures, two of the crossings are being installed at the intersection of Wentworth St and South Steyne.
Work on the crossings began on Sunday night, but has been postponed for Monday night due to incoming rainy weather. The council expected the crossing to be open on Thursday.
But the trial — which hasn’t even started yet — is already getting a mixed reception from locals with the council’s Facebook getting more than 2000 reactions on its Facebook page and more than 700 comments.
One local commented: “Visitors to the area are likely to be confronted by the ‘blocks’ in the road, be confused, slam on the brakes and cause more accidents than these 3D ‘blocks’ were intended to prevent.”
Another reckoned: “Guarantee some old person is going to trip & hurt themselves thanks to the optical illusion.”
But the council pointed out that the installation will still look like a regular 2D flat zebra crossing to pedestrians as they cross it.
The council said the crossing would cater for the elderly or people with disability “as they are flat, present no obstacles to pedestrians and are still high contrast like a standard crossing”.
“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve pedestrian safety and the latest pedestrian trial is no exception”.
“The 3D crossings have been used in numerous locations in Europe and America, as well as a few Australian locations, with research showing that they can reduce traffic speeds and improve public safety,” it said in a statement.
“Driver, pedestrian and community behaviour will be assessed during the first six months of the trial to determine the crossing’s effectiveness and consider if they should be applied to other high pedestrian and vehicle traffic across the area.”
“Pedestrians are asked to take extra care while the work is being completed.
Winds of change! Aussie sailor blazing new trail in America’s Cup waters
Growing up Annie Wilmot was surrounded by America’s Cup sailors and one very famous history-making uncle. Now she’s a Cup trailblazer herself.
Aussie quartet make sailing history with win in women’s America’s Cup
For the first time in 174 years Australian women have set sail in an America’s Cup. How the quartet on Andoo Australia are faring as the Pool B Racing begins.