A first for land transport industry

Land Transport Authority (LTA), the government body that plans road and rail network in Singapore, relies on some planning parameters to determine how much time to allocate to each phases of the signalised junctions. One of such is walking speed, which is used to determine the minimum time for pedestrians to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing. For example, a dual three-lane road with a central median (i.e. the road separator) is about 25 metres wide. Based on walking speed of of 1.1 metre/second, pedestrians should be given a minimum of 23 seconds to cross the road, excluding the start up lag which usually constitutes another 5 seconds.

Different areas has different parameters, mainly to reflect the local demographics. For road crossings in city area, the walking speed parameter can reach as high as 1.3 m/s. On the other hand, housing estates, especially those with more elderly residents, could see a low of about 0.9 m/s.

In a latest study (refer to news below), Singapore finally earns a number one spot in the otherwise medal-less land transport sector: by having people who walked the fastest in the world! The study reported that Singaporeans took 10.55 seconds to cover 18-metre, which translates to a walking speed of 1.7m/s.

If LTA were to adopt the higher walking speed planning parameter, pedestrians who are walking slower would have to hasten their walking speed by about 25%, in the mean time possibly increasing their blood pressure too. On the other hand, motorcars will have more green time, especially for turning vehicles: this will increase the vehicles throughput at signalised junctions and thereby reducing queues and jams at junctions.

I'm personally against raising the planning parameter. Already I need to face a particular pedestrian crossing near my office which I always fail to cross in time. LTA should consider increasing the green time so I can enjoy a more comfortable work after lunch. I'm pretty sure it's not due to the additional pounds I gain from the heavy lunch, if you're asking. ;)

Life in the fast lane 'speeds up'

The pace of life for city dwellers is literally getting faster, a new British-led study suggests.

People are walking 10% more quickly than a decade ago, according to research in 32 cities across the globe.

Thousands of pedestrians were secretly timed in city centres with Singapore's residents found to be the most swift, followed by Copenhagen and Madrid.

However, the chief researcher told the BBC walking faster did not necessarily mean people were getting healthier.

Professor Richard Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, told the BBC that the results provided "a significant insight into the physical and social health of a city".

"At one level, walking quickly is good, but if it's a way of life - if you're doing it simply to get from A to B as quickly as possible - then it goes with a whole load of other behaviours which are not quite so good for you.

"As people speed it's not the stress, it's the result of not eating properly, exercising or seeing friends and family. It can lead to all kinds of things, especially heart attacks."

A frenetic pace of life was found to be driven to some extent by technology. Mr Wiseman said communications were getting faster and faster.

"We are constantly in touch with each other and getting back to people as quickly as we can and that's minutes and not hours. That's driving us to think everything has to happen now."

The biggest changes were found in Guangzhou in China with an increase of more than 20%. Singapore showed a 30% increase, making it the most frenetic city in the study.

New York was ranked 8th, while London was outside the top 10. The Middle East tended to have the slowest pace of life.

The study was carried out in collaboration with the UK's cultural relations agency, the British Council.

FASTEST CITIES
1. Singapore; 10.55s
2. Copenhagen (Denmark); 10.82s
3. Madrid (Spain); 10.89s
4. Guangzhou (China): 10.94s
5. Dublin (Ireland); 11.03s
6. Curitiba (Brazil); 11.13s
7. Berlin (Germany); 11.16s
8. New York (USA); 12.00s
9. Utrecht (Holland); 12.04s
10. Vienna (Austria); 12.06s

Time in seconds to cover 60ft (0.02km)
Source: British Council

Source: BBC