NYC to get hundreds of countdown clock crosswalks with lighted red numbers, in 3, 2, 1 …
By APMonday, August 16, 2010
NYC to get hundreds of countdown clock crosswalks
NEW YORK — Hundreds of New York City crosswalks are getting pedestrian countdown clocks.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration studied the signals in a pilot program of 24 intersections. It found the countdown clocks were particularly helpful on wide streets with longer crosswalks such as Queens Boulevard, a major thoroughfare up to 12 lanes wide in parts.
Starting this month, 1,500 intersections will get the clocks, which are common in other cities.
The city’s standard crosswalk signal features the outline of a person walking in white lights, a hand flashing in red lights and then a solid hand in red lights. The countdown clock is next to the standard signal and features numbers in red lights.
Manhattan resident Rita Dulberg says the clock makes her feel safer crossing because she knows how long she has.
