DGH Trying Out Z-Shaped Crosswalks to Improve Pedestrian Safety|彰化試辦Z字型斑馬線提高行人穿越安全

發布時間：2019/4/24 17:49 更新時間：2019/4/24 18:43

C. Chuang

The Directorate General of Highways is trying out a new type of Z-shaped crosswalk in Changhua County. The crosswalk is split into sections with a traffic island dividing it. This design not only expands the waiting space area of pedestrians, but also increases the safety of senior citizens and people with mobility problems.

A senior citizen and his dog cross the street using the crosswalk. This crosswalk is not like normal crosswalks. It has two sections, with the traffic island serving as the divider, and is shaped like the letter "Z." This is the first Z-shaped crosswalk placed by the Directorate General of Highways. The objective is to the increase the safety of pedestrians crossing the road. So far, the new design has received acclaim.

It's better like this. If intersections are too long, some people will need to rest after crossing half of them, like the elderly. Some elderly people are unable to cross in one go. (So you believe having two sections is better?) Yes.

It's different. Before, you might have had to dodge cars while crossing the intersection. Now, you don't have to. However, you still have to watch out for your safety. You still have to look to the right and left before crossing.

The DGH selected Changhua County's Yuanlin City to try out the new design. The Z-shaped crosswalk has already been implemented near two hospitals. This design is expected to increase the safety of people with mobility issues and senior citizens. If they are unable to cross the entire road in one go, they can wait for the light to change at the waiting area inside the traffic island. The moving lines guide pedestrians to watch out for oncoming cars. Moreover, the crosswalks are located farther back from intersections, reducing the coverage gap of large vehicles turning the corner.

The first consideration was that the section of Provincial Highway 1 that goes through Yuanlin is heavily trafficked. Pedestrians also need to cross this section of the road. The road characteristics also fit, as there is a traffic island and the road is sufficiently wide. This is why we chose this location to try it out.

The DGH says Taiwan is already an aged society, and age-friendly environments must be offered. This means people-oriented traffic designs should be progressively implemented. The DGH intends to roll out the Z-shaped crosswalk in more locations in Changhua, before moving on to Taichung, the next target.

老先生牽著小狗走斑馬線通過馬路，不過這個斑馬線不太一樣，在中央分隔島就被切成兩截，變成了一個Z字型，這是公路總局首創的Z字型行人穿越道，目的是為了提高行人穿越馬路的安全，民眾都有不錯的評價。

民眾劉先生表示：「這樣有比較好，如果(路口)太長，有些人走一半要休息，老人家你想要走到那裡，有些人就走不過去了。（所以你覺得兩截比較好？) 這樣好，兩截好。」

民眾陳先生表示：「比較不一樣啦！因為你本來如果說，在那個路口那邊的話，會有點要跟要去閃避那個車子，在這邊就比較不用，但當然還是要注意一下安全，你左右來車還是要看一下。」

公路總局選定彰化縣員林市兩家醫院周邊，先行試辦新的Z字型斑馬線，主要針對行動不便的民眾，還有行動較緩慢的老人家做為規劃設計的基礎。如果來不及通過馬路，能在分隔島的等待區等待，而動線也能引導行人注意來車，新的斑馬線也比舊式退縮路口，大型車輛轉彎時的行車死角會減少。

公路總局彰化工務段段長蔡宜宏表示：「主要台1線在員林這個路段，第一個是它交通量，算是很大的一個路段，那它這個路段，也有民眾過馬路的一個需求，那加上我們道路條件，在這邊是有中央分隔島，那路寬也足夠，我們來做這樣的一個配置，所以我們才會優先，選這邊來做試辦。」

公路總局表示，台灣已經進入高齡化社會，所以必須提供更多的友善空間，以人為本的交通設計必須逐步進行，Z字型斑馬線除彰化地區會逐步增設外，接下來台中市會是下一個試辦的地區。