So, there's a Level Crossing on one of my cycle commuting routes.
The barriers came down as I approached it last night, no problem. But then I stood there, getting cold for 9.5 minutes waiting for 3x Trains to pass. What was galling was that it was 1 train 45s to a minute after the barrier came down, then about a 7 minute wait for the next 2 in quick succession.
This pause in my ride gave me alot of time to think - I have come to the conclusion that Level Crossing barrier timings are stuck in a never-ending feedback loop.
- People get hit on crossings because they are stupid.
- Install barriers.
- People try to squeak through a closing barrier and get stuck (and perhaps struck)
- Adopt more conservative barrier timings to build in a reaction time in case of trouble
- More conservative barrier timing causes people to try and squeak through even more, knowing they'll wait for an eternity.
- Even more conservative barrier timing.
- Repeat ad nauseum
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The extra kicker at this particular crossing is that, just after the crossing is a pinch-point over an old bridge. The traffic was so backed up on the other side that my direction crosses the LC then immediatley stops to to give away (as instructed by the signs) to the other direction, leaving some poor sods stationary on the tracks.
Anyway, in the age of 'smart' systems, surely barrier timings could be tidied up a bit. They know exactly where each train is and how fast it's going. Hardly rocket surgery.
/moan