How 3D Pedestrian Crossings Are Slowing Down Speeding Drivers in Iceland
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In the small fishing town of Ísafjörður, Iceland, an exciting development in pedestrian crossing safety has just popped up – almost literally.
Speed bumps has been painted that appears to be 3D by way of a cleverly-detailed optical illusion. Not only does the innovative design give foot-travelers the feeling of walking on air, but the 3D painting also gets the attention of drivers, who will be sure to slow down their speed once they spot the seemingly floating ‘zebra stripes.’
Icelandic environmental commissioner Ralf Trylla called for its placement in Ísafjörður after seeing a similar project being carried out in New Delhi, India. With the help of street painting company Vegmálun GÍH, his vision of pedestrian crossing signs became a reality.
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@streetartutopia @ultranurd Pfft. I’m certain that from the pedestrians’ perspective, this paint job will NOT give them “the feeling of walking on air”.
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@vaughnsc @streetartutopia But it will look good when you post!
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@fietsria @streetartutopia This works where the sun is coming from the extreme south and so always appears from nearly the same direction.
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@streetartutopia pretty shure that only works well when the road is cleared…
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@streetartutopia Clever! I wonder if drivers will eventually get used to them and drive just as fast?
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Funny! Whatever works!
@streetartutopia I’ve seen some similar designs in Slovenia, though they just make the zebra stripes look like slabs: https://www.google.si/maps/@45.5040023,13.6082103,3a,75y,92.49h,90.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYMTNRm26VWIXQiOd7_zKIg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-0.64319822721869%26panoid%3DYMTNRm26VWIXQiOd7_zKIg%26yaw%3D92.49177565873096!7i16384!8i8192?ucbcb=1&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEwMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
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@streetartutopia Plus the illusion of skateboarding right on the edge.
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@streetartutopia I'm concerned this might just distract the drivers, increasing risk rather than decreasing it. Hope I'm wrong and it turns out to work brilliantly though 🙂
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@streetartutopia
Sounds great until a nighttime driver veers onto the sidewalk to avoid the unexpected wall.
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@streetartutopia@streetartutopia.com
Dude in the one picture looks like he’s employed by the Ministry of Silly-Walks.
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@streetartutopia cute but with a catastrophic ending
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@fietsria @streetartutopia If you did this on actual raised crossings, it would help alert drivers as well as slowing them down.
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@streetartutopia One thing that comes to mind is 80-something people who shouldn't be driving stopping to check it thinking it's real, and 20 something kids braking suddenly once they notice it too late because they were scrolling their phone…
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@streetartutopia
How cool is that!
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@streetartutopia Found it on Google maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/LQddwgH9SAzrMCuc8 —> Hafnarstræti 17, 400 Ísafjörður, IJsland
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@fietsria @streetartutopia
if the small coastal town is anything like those in UK, I would expect it attracts enough visitors new to the area for this to remain a novelty for many (that they have a non signalised crossing and buildings in the background suggest its a tourist area, possibly with existing 30 km/h limit. Its also a one way street or the effect wouldn't work)
Locals speeding will always be a problem everywhere, unless its dealt with by the normal methods and enforcement..
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@fietsria @streetartutopia
I had a look on Google Street View – its hard to see the crossing as as the Streetview car does not approach it directly in the way that would show the 3D effect possibly due to a complicated one way system that already exists in the area. TBH it doesn't look like a widely populated area and likely also dependent on tourism, I wonder if the crossing is also put there as an attraction and any road safety gain is a bonus?
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@vfrmedia @fietsria @streetartutopia Perhaps they're hoping to attract car vision developers…
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@fietsria @streetartutopia Easy fix. Just add real floating concrete slabs like once or twice a year and drivers will learn to slow down to see if it's real or just an optical illusion. 😌
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@fietsria @macberg @streetartutopia Ah, but they only have to pay if the driver survives to collect….
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@fietsria @mtconleyuk @macberg @streetartutopia Is there a way they only pop up for rich drivers without heirs? Then all the money goes to the state. win-win
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@fietsria @macberg @streetartutopia that's a really terrible law. That explains why cars are always hitting bollards and don't seem to care.
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