Scramble

Thanks to Christopher for sending me this. First is a video of Toronto’s first “scramble” intersection in use.

Scramble from Sam Javanrouh on Vimeo.

As EcoVelo write

Scrambles are intersections where cars are stopped in all directions and pedestrians are allowed to cross in all directions at once, including diagonally.

Of course, bicycles are vehicles too, so cyclists must stop on the vehicle red light, though bikes can be walked through the intersection on the pedestrian light. It’ll be interesting to see if cyclists adopt some sort of modified dismount/walk/remount behavior—à la cyclocross—to take advantage of their ambiguous status and have it both ways.

Then there's a video of a similar scramble for bicyclists in the Netherlands. A bike only period in the light cycle allows bicycles to travel in any direction across the junction, including diagonally.

Very cool, innovative stuff.

Comments

[kenf]

Back in the 50s we had a bunch of these in the US. It was called a 'Barnes Dance" after a traffic expert of the same name who set them up.

[Jon Grinder]

We have some of these in Denver. Really nice for getting around on foot.

[Joe]

This idea has been suggested for the CCT crossing in Bethesda. It was turned down as it was said to impede traffic!

[finishthetrail]

This would be a great solution for the CCT crossing at Woodmont and Bethesda Ave. Since more pedestrians and cyclists cross here during many periods than do motorists, the idea that this was turned down because it would impede traffic is crazy. Unless, of course, you are of the belief that pedestrians and cyclists are not "real" traffic.

[Contrarian]

That crossing at Woodmont and Bethesda is insane; it seems like there are cars going through the crosswalks at every part of the light cycle.

A "scramble" intersection is a shifting of resources -- the roadway -- from motorists to pedestrians. It cuts by a third the amount of time available for vehicles. Widespread adoption would represent a revolution in the philosophy of traffic engineering, which traditionally has considered only throughput of motor vehicles.

[David Hembrow]

Thanks for featuring my video of a simultaneous green junction here in the Netherlands.

It is one of many such junctions in this area and has a great effect on the speed of cyclists - in part because cyclists get a green light twice as often as drivers.

When there are more cyclists than drivers, such things are not a luxury but become necessary.

This is one of many videos of Dutch cycle provision which I've made available on youtube. Together with a lot of other information, many of them are also explained on my blog.