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I think it would make more sense if we could do that at every intersection. Sometimes we need to go to the other corner but have to wait to cross one street and then the other. Depending on traffic conditions etc. I hope it works and we have more of them. I like it more then traffic circles, though I guess this is traffic circles for pedestrians in a way.

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I’d like to have a 24-hour loop of that video and play it as my screen-saver. Yes; that would make me happy. Somebody get on that.

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These are called a ‘Barnes Dance’ in New Zealand. Some even have animated pedestrian lights (wait…wait..wait…meander!) and a countdown timer so that pedestrians can see how long they have until they get run over.

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Finally! :) Although I think it should have been launched at Bay & Bloor first cause that intersection is WAY more chaotic then Yonge & Dundas.

The idea is great! As a pedestrian I’ll be able to cross diagonally across the intersection. As a driver, I’ll finally be able to make a right turn on one green light without having to wait for a gap in pedestrians because when it’s the car’s right of way, no pedestrians are supposed to be crossing. The result: a better functioning intersection that allows people and cars to move freely and clearing up grid lock. I lived in Japan for over 2 years and the intersections really work to clear up grid lock!

The problem, however, is that pedestrians in Toronto aren’t paying attention to their signals at the new Yonge-Dundas scramble so they are crossing the street when they shouldn’t be (ie. when it’s the cars’ right of way). It doesn’t really matter at that intersection cause traffic can’t turn left or right in any direction anyway, but at an intersection like Bay & Bloor, it would make a HUGE difference. Because if pedestrians were crossing when it’s the car’s right of way, then gridlock will actually worsen (from the delayed green for cars, and then waiting for the gap in pedestrians to make a right turn).

This is a new idea in Toronto and City officals should display better signage so pedestrians and drivers are aware of their roles in the new scramble intersection.

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