Hey, I’m walking here!

Since last year, the Joongang Ilbo has been publishing articles on city design by a professor named 권영걸. The large majority of these not only apply to non-Koreans as well, but also compare Korea to just about every other country in the world, and once again are pure common sense. Here he tackles the issue of pedestrian rights, which is a pressing one to those of us in Seoul and elsewhere who have to dodge drivers blowing red lights into our crossing lanes.

The street is the area in which people and cars meet. Having crosswalks installed to divide the road between the sidewalks is for the protection of both the pedestrian and the driver.

However, we find most drivers waiting in front of crosswalks with agitation for the pedestrian lights to change. It feels as if the pedestrians have decided to borrow the car’s roadway for a period of time until the light changes and the road resorts back to its proper owner.

In developed countries we find a widespread driving culture where pedestrians are given the right of way even not at crosswalks. Well, what about Korea? Most of the lines painted on the road are centered on the car, not the pedestrian.

In roads in England one can often see a zig-zag pattern on the roads. This is a type of notice to those from far away that there’s going to be a pedestrian crossing up ahead.

The broken line hits the driver visually, having a strong effect in catching their attention. This is because the straight line has suddenly turned into a zig-zag pattern, letting the driver know that though as yet unseen, pedestrians are up ahead. Then the driver slowly lowers the speed of the vehicle and is able to wait while the pedestrian crosses the road. The broken-line zig-zag pattern not only helps the pedestrian stay safe, but gives a strong feeling of liveliness and added exuberance to the road.

Lane markers at a Korean pedestrian crossing.

Both sides of a pedestrian crossing in England.