marjorie_barkMar 6
Laurie Winkless

My March story for @forbes has just gone live. It's all about pedestrian crossings and how the timings they're based on no longer match the demographics of our cities - research from the University of Bath

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewinkless/2026/03/05/fewer-than-2-of-older-pedestrians-can-cross-the-street-in-time/

#science #sciencejournalist #scicomm

Fewer Than 2% Of Older Pedestrians Can Cross The Street In Time

The length of the green signal on pedestrian crossings assumes that people can walk at a speed of 1.2 m/s. Scientists find that very few older people can walk that fast.

Forbes
Mar 6 at 3:17amWeb
Show threadDr Suzanne she/herMar 6
@LaurieWinkless @forbes I finished the your book you sent me a while back, and I passed it along to a student who says she’s enjoying it!! 😁
Show threadLaurie WinklessMar 6
@DrSuzanne @forbes oh wonderful, thanks 👍🏼
Show threadFuture SprogMar 6

Really interesting the considerations that went into setting the timing for those crossings.

A trial introduced in Singapore a few years back allowed people to tap their transit card at the pedestrian crossing. If they were a senior then the crossing phase would be longer. “Green Man Plus”: https://www.mot.gov.sg/what-we-do/motoring-road-network-and-infrastructure/inclusive-transport-infrastructure/

@LaurieWinkless

Inclusive transport infrastructure

Creating a more liveable environment for our community.

Ministry of Transport
Show threadLaurie WinklessMar 6
@futuresprog yes! Max actually mentioned that during our interview. Very interesting concept. Singapore is miles ahead on supporting its older population to stay living in their communities
Show threadKirstyMar 6

@LaurieWinkless @forbes

There’s an episode of Grace and Frankie about this.
Frankie wants to go to a buffet but can’t cross the road in time.

Show threadLaurie WinklessMar 6
@Kirsty @forbes really? I've never seen that show 👍🏼
Show threadKirstyMar 7

@LaurieWinkless @forbes

It’s really good. I didn’t think it would be for me but it sucked me in recently.
I loved watching the different types of love between the characters.
It’s a show that I’m sure I’ll rewatch- and I rarely do that.

Show threadTodd NelsonMar 9
@LaurieWinkless @forbes a 72 yr old cyclist died crossing a street (CA US, yrs ago). Police said she ran a red light (per the driver that hit her). Our crosswalks have quick times normally, then extend to 30 seconds if a pedestrian pushes the button. (Not sure if the "yellow" time extends.)
If the cyclist approached the intersection while it was green, she wouldn't have stopped to push the button. My guess is that it turned yellow, then red before she got across.
Advocates argued for a median refuge island.
It was not implemented.