Promoting independence with the Wokingham puffin crossing
Older people and school children are now safer walking alone at California Crossroads, after the installation of a puffin crossing. In a bid to improve road safety for children at the Gorse Ride Infant and Junior Schools, as well as for shoppers at the California Crossroads shopping parade, Wokingham Borough Council has installed the puffin crossing outside the California Ratepayers’ Hall on Finchampstead Road.
Puffin crossings display red and green men on display units at the eye height of pedestrians. They also use kerbside and on-crossing detectors to monitor the pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
Should the pedestrian cross before the green man is shown, the kerbside detector will cancel the pedestrian’s demand before the traffic is interrupted. The on-crossing detectors watch the area of the road pedestrians will be crossing on, and for slow moving pedestrians it will extend the time the crossing is kept clear. This makes puffin crossings particularly useful to more vulnerable pedestrians such as older people.
On Wednesday April 18, Wokingham Mayor Cllr Angus Ross tried out the new crossing with children and teachers from Gorse Ride Infant School. Also joining the Mayor were the council’s road safety officer Maureen Lockwood, and Carol Bates, member of the Older People’s Forum in Finchampstead (FINE). FINE ensures that older members of the community have a voice in the planning and delivery of local services, and arranges speakers on issues such as safety and security and advice for the disabled.
Carol said: “This crossing will make life a lot safer for older and less able-bodied residents, especially wheelchair users. It will help promote independence for older people because they will be able to cross this busy road with much more confidence.”
Wokingham Cllr Ross said: “I’m delighted we are able to make children and older people safer on this busy road. It is excellent that many children walk to school at Gorse Ride, and the council is always keen to promote initiatives that will help more vulnerable people to lead independent lives.”
Puffin crossings display red and green men on display units at the eye height of pedestrians. They also use kerbside and on-crossing detectors to monitor the pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
Should the pedestrian cross before the green man is shown, the kerbside detector will cancel the pedestrian’s demand before the traffic is interrupted. The on-crossing detectors watch the area of the road pedestrians will be crossing on, and for slow moving pedestrians it will extend the time the crossing is kept clear. This makes puffin crossings particularly useful to more vulnerable pedestrians such as older people.
On Wednesday April 18, Wokingham Mayor Cllr Angus Ross tried out the new crossing with children and teachers from Gorse Ride Infant School. Also joining the Mayor were the council’s road safety officer Maureen Lockwood, and Carol Bates, member of the Older People’s Forum in Finchampstead (FINE). FINE ensures that older members of the community have a voice in the planning and delivery of local services, and arranges speakers on issues such as safety and security and advice for the disabled.
Carol said: “This crossing will make life a lot safer for older and less able-bodied residents, especially wheelchair users. It will help promote independence for older people because they will be able to cross this busy road with much more confidence.”
Wokingham Cllr Ross said: “I’m delighted we are able to make children and older people safer on this busy road. It is excellent that many children walk to school at Gorse Ride, and the council is always keen to promote initiatives that will help more vulnerable people to lead independent lives.”
Wokingham Borough Council
<< Home