Rebecca Manzi In Singapore the Green Man Plus system makes pedestrian crossings safer for the elderly and disabled thanks to a card that adds more time to cross
@LTA
In Singapore, technological innovation is combined with a commitment to the needs of vulnerable communities to deliver practical and impactful solutions. One outstanding example is the Green Man Plus system, designed to make pedestrian crossings safer for seniors and people with disabilities.
How Green Man Plus works
The technology behind Green Man Plus is amazingly simple and amazingly effective: the system involves tapping an electronic card on a reader attached to the traffic light poles, which grants users more time to cross the street, making sure that no one hurries, hence minimizing the risks of accidents.
The extra time ranges from 3 to 13 seconds, depending on the width of the intersection. This is not only a practical intervention but also a very considerate act for those who need more time due to their disability or just a slower pace.
1,500 new card readers by 2027
It is not stopping there: this system expansion is part of an ambitious plan by the Land Transport Authority to fit 1,500 new card readers by 2027, bringing the total number of intersections that will be covered under the project to more than 2,500.
This has been a well thought-out initiative: new installations will focus on areas that have a high density in terms of elderly residents and periphery points of interest, community centers, and public transports.
AI-powered smart traffic light
Meanwhile, even more innovative concepts are in the making: A team of students have come up with an intelligent traffic light system run on AI. It will automatically detect a mobility aid – wheelchair or walker – and change the crossing time without the user having to tap a card. This will eliminate technological barriers and move closer to a universal solution.
Towards a more inclusive city
More than simple infrastructure, these projects stand for concrete commitments toward a more inclusive city. This is to say that the true innovation-advanced technology-can go hand in hand with empathy and attention to the needs of the people.
Singapore reminds us that progress is measured not just by speed but by the ability to care for those who need it most. After all, a smart city is not truly “smart” if it leaves anyone behind.
Green Man Plus is an initiative to address the needs of elderly pedestrians who may require more time to cross the road….
Posted by Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving on Monday, April 11, 2011
Source: LTA | Green Man+
