Motor vehicles get dethroned as 'kings of the road'

New safety and efficiency guidelines have been issued to benefit motorless vehicles and pedestrians, according to Zhuhai's Housing & Urban-Rural Planning & Construction Bureau.

The guidelines for crossroad planning and design shift the focus from motor vehicles to other road users by installing upgrades and coloring paving at intersections. The bureau says that traditional design usually takes smooth traffic flow as the primary goal, yet new research centers on human-oriented transport.

Under the procedures, refuge islands at busy intersections will be enlarged to accommodate more pedestrians during peak periods.

Earmarked right-turn lanes to give motorless vehicles the right-of-way are suggested at crossings in residential or leisure areas. Notwithstanding improved safety, the scheme is effective only where bicycle traffic dominates the traffic flow.  

Cycle track at crossroads

Cycle paths will share red coloring with greenway paths to ensure their visibility. In addition, lanes on one side of a roadway will be made to join lanes on the opposite side, ensuring continuity.

The changes are expected to create faster and more efficient travel that to some extent prioritizes pedestrian and bicycle safety. That kind of system, said a bureau official, is a sign of a habitable city.

Surface mark signifying cyclist right-of-way [Photos courtesy Zhuhai Daily]