Hong Kong opened two new diagonal crossings in Sha Tin to help pedestrians save time when they walk at the intersection of Sha Kok Street and Yat Tai Street in Sha Tin. The new crossing opened on Wednesday, and is part of a trial programme that authorities are conducting, which will include another one in Tsim Sha Tsui set to launch in mid-2024.
The Sha Tin crossings are marked with diagonal yellow stripes and have new traffic signals to allow pedestrians to walk directly across the centre of the junction, which will help them save time. According to the Transport Department, diagonal crossings need longer green man signals than regular crossings as walking distances are longer and pedestrian refuge islands cannot be built on them.
Authorities have been reviewing which junctions in the city need diagonal crossings, and have included the intersection of Carnarvon Road and Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui in their trial programme. They will then assess the impact these crossings have on vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
The Shibuya Crossing in Japan is the world’s most famous and busiest intersection, with up to 2,500 people crossing it at a time. It serves 10 lanes of traffic and five major pedestrian crossings — one of which is diagonal —in the heart of Tokyo, has featured in several Hollywood films, most notably Lost in Translation and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Header image credits: GovHK, f11photo via Canva
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