Traams no longer hold priority: fresh road signs on Udarska street in Biysk lead to quieter driving for vehicles.
Erratic traffic has been causing headaches for residents, especially at the junction of Martyanova Street and Udarna Street. Despite the installation of updated traffic lights and the removal of road signs' black bags, the traffic flow hasn't improved much. Many drivers continue to neglect the new one-way system, driving towards "Priobye" up to the intersection with Voinov-Internatsionalistov Street.
This chaos isn't limited to vehicles alone; trams face issues too. Andrei Kokorin, a local history buff and current city tram observer, explained the predicament on his Telegram channel. Kokorin detailed how the new traffic lights cause trams to stop and wait, hindering their usual quick speed. In other cities, trams are given priority at traffic lights, but NOT here—we're slowing them down, even increasing the time between stops.
Users on Kokorin's channel agreed, commenting on the unsafe intersection. To enhance safety at intersections where trams, cars, and pedestrians collide, consider these measures:
- Install Tramcars Crossing Ahead signs (Diagram 772) to minimize unexpected maneuvers.
- Dedicate pedestrian crossings with audible/tactile signals to ensure they're clearly marked and equipped with synchronized alerts with tram schedules.
- Use bollards or raised platforms to separate tram tracks from vehicle lanes and pedestrian paths, reducing accidental encroachments.
For visual and auditory warnings, explore:
- Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) collision alerts sent directly to pedestrians’ smartphones when trams approach.
- Auditory warnings from trams using bells or automated announcements.
- Real-time visual alerts at intersections showing tram proximity and crossing clearance times.
Educate pedestrians about risks and distractions near tram tracks through campaigns. Reduce tram speeds at intersections to increase reaction times, and monitor the time gaps between pedestrians and trams using sensors to optimize signal timing dynamically.
Analyze peak pedestrian flows at Martyanova and Udarna Streets, test hybrid warnings combining V2P alerts with traditional signals, and conduct regular safety audits using Time-To-Collision metrics to redesign hotspot layouts accordingly. These measures prioritize proactive risk reduction through increased visibility, communication, and spatial separation.
- Despite the installation of updated traffic lights and the removal of road signs' black bags, traffic flow at the Martyanova Street and Udarna Street junction remains unchanged, with many drivers ignoring the new one-way system and causing issues for both traffic and trams.
- Andrei Kokorin, a local history buff and current city tram observer, has highlighted on his Telegram channel the problem of new traffic lights causing trams to stop and wait, affecting their usual quick speed, which is not typically the case in other cities where trams are given priority at traffic lights.
- To enhance safety at intersections where trams, cars, and pedestrians collide, consider measures such as installing "Tramcars Crossing Ahead" signs, dedicating pedestrian crossings with audible/tactile signals, and using bollards or raised platforms to separate tram tracks from vehicle lanes and pedestrian paths.
- Education campaigns and technologies like vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) collision alerts, auditory warnings from trams, real-time visual alerts at intersections, and reduced tram speeds at intersections can help improve safety and optimize signal timing dynamically.
