Sydney Gets Pedestrian Countdown Timers, Finally

Way too often, Sydney intersections regress into a kind of chaotic, pedestrian-versus-automobile battlefield. Tired of being road-raged at by drivers, when all you're doing is crossing the road? Tired of out-of-nowhere pedestrians taking a running chance on a flashing red man? The rules of engagement are about to become a whole lot clearer. You can now plan your movements with the precision you would the cooking of a perfectly boiled egg. Yellow digital timers have arrived at six of Sydney’s busy crossroads.

It's a move that puts power into the pedestrian's hands. Countdown timers are already part of the landscape in major cities around the world, including New York, Tokyo, Singapore and Los Angeles. Western Australian cities are also trialling the timers, which have already been a success in Brisbane. Knowing how many seconds you have means that you can decide just how and when you want to execute your crossing, which is stress-reducing for everyone, particularly for those managing limited mobility.

"The timers appear after the green signal phase and display the number of seconds pedestrians have to cross a road before the red 'don’t walk' signal appears," Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay explained in a media statement. "By providing time information to pedestrians, it will reduce the number of people trying to cross the road too late and risking their lives."

The Sydney timers are on trial for two months, during which walkers' behaviour will be monitored. "Pedestrians are also reminded they need to play their part by obeying the signals and getting their hand off their mobile phone when crossing the road,” Gay said. To prove what a responsible crosser you are, now that you're empowered, head to Pitt and Goulburn Streets (Sydney CBD), Park and Pitt Streets (Sydney CBD), Elizabeth and Market Streets (Sydney CBD), Victoria Avenue and Archer Street (Chatswood), Campbell and Marsden Streets (Parramatta) and Parkes and Station Streets (Parramatta).