A man crosses the zebra crossing despite the stop sign.
| Francis Nderitu | Nation Media GroupNairobi
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How City Hall's digital zebra crossing project became a white elephant
When City Hall unveiled digital zebra crossing technology in May 2019, the move was touted as a new beginning for pedestrians in Nairobi.
The new traffic lights system, borrowed from developed countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America, was to give pedestrians priority and more control at crossing points across the capital, a city where motorists reign supreme.
Pedestrians have for years been at the mercy of motorists who more often than not refuse to give way at the traditional zebra crossing points sometimes leading to cases of the pedestrians, especially school children and people with disabilities, being knocked down.
Consequently, the new technology was seen as a panacea to this perennial problem. For a start, two pilot systems were installed along City Hall Way and another at Harambee Avenue with the then Nairobi Transport Executive Hitan Majevdia saying the technology would improve the safety of pedestrians.
“We have installed trial ones, to begin with. We intend to spread it to the high traffic volume streets and avenues across the city centre,” said Mr Majevdia then.
More than two years later, only the two pilot systems are in place and the promise to roll out the project across the city remains just that: a promise.
Worryingly, Nairobi residents have altogether not acquainted themselves with the use of the system or have just given them a wide berth.
A spot check by nation.africa along the busy Harambee Avenue established a worrying trend amongst the same pedestrians the system was to protect and motorists.
It is around 3pm and the road is starting to fill up as most offices and workplaces in the city begin to empty ahead of the rush hour.
A boda boda rider drives past the zebra crossing despite the lights giving pedestrians priority.
We press the traffic light button and wait for instructions on when to cross to the other side. Even before the command is issued, pedestrians compete with cars and motorcycles to cross oblivious of the existence of the lights.
Even after the digital traffic light confirms it's safe to cross to the other side, the motorists coming from both sides of the road do not stop.
Road is clear
Only a handful of cars stop and let the pedestrians cross as dictated by the traffic lights. However, the other drivers behind rudely hoot at them for stopping yet the “road is clear”. This despite the fact that there is a conventional zebra crossing to complement the new technology.
Abusive words and impolite gestures are exchanged in the altercation with some of the obedient drivers being forced to drive off while others turn a deaf ear.
Mary*, a young woman, is one of the impatient pedestrians. With a few glances right and left, she hurriedly crosses the zebra crossing as cars hoot at her.
“When I get here, it’s ever a rush of who will cross first. Almost always, other motorists will hoot angrily. One just needs to be very observant before making the dash,” she reveals.
Mary is unaware of the use of the digital traffic light and she represents many Nairobi residents who daily see the digital zebra crossing system but do not care to familairise themselves with how it operates.
Nairobi residents cross the road despite a stop sign on the smart gadgets.
When launching the system, Mr Majevdia explained the system works by a pedestrian pressing a button then waiting for a signal from the traffic light which will be doing a countdown before bleeping when it is all clear to cross the road.
A green light is a go-ahead for pedestrians while red light is a signal for motorists to stop until the pedestrian(s) cross to the other side.
“The blip tells you to cross. You do not have to read or see the traffic light signal, the blip will tell you,” he said.
He pointed out that pedestrians have 16 seconds to cross the road after the bleep. County government traffic marshals were to also be at hand to help pedestrians to operate the system and also deter errant motorists.
The marshals were to keep an eye on motorists who flout the rules traffic rules by continuing to drive when it is the green light for pedestrians with the offenders risking arrest and/or being penalised.
Nonetheless, during the spot check, there were no county traffic marshals on site as had earlier been promised.
One officer guarding one of the buildings along the avenue said that even with well-written instructions in both languages, at each side of the zebra crossing system, very few bothered with them.
He said it could either be the residents are ignorant or naïve, or both, when it comes to the use of the digital traffic light technology.
Decorative piece
“You will see a pedestrian who will press the button but will not wait. On the other hand, you will see one who will just cross as cars are passing. Motorcyclists are the most ignorant, most of them do not stop regardless,” the officer disclosed.
He also lays some blame on the county government, saying they could have educated the residents more on the use of the digital traffic light.
“This is a good technology but the lack of sensitisation makes it look like just a decorative piece on road.”
When nation.africa reached out to Mr Majevdia on Tuesday, he said City Hall had already identified 21 places across Nairobi and not only in the city centre like in the busy estates including Dagoretti, Kawangare, and Eastlands where they wanted to replicate the technology before the Nairobi Metropolitan Services came into being and with it went four key county functions including transport.
“The plan was there and donors had agreed to fund it then the functions were transferred. The two were a demonstration. When we handed over, we handed in detailed reports from all the reports and so they (NMS) have everything with them,” he said.
For his part, Engineer Frederick Karanja, former Roads and Infrastructure Chief Officer and now with NMS, said there is a future for the project as the plan was to have 70 such traffic light systems.
He confirmed that the plan was to begin with the city centre before venturing into the estates with the project being rolled in phases with the first phase to have five such systems.
People use the zebra crossing despite a wait sign on the smart gadgets.
“There is a future for them only that we cannot do everything in a single financial year. The two were pilot ones and there were supposed to be others but you know it is not something you can do at one go but in phases. Right now we are concentrated on the non-motorised transport project and maintaining whatever is existing,” said Mr Karanja.
The officer said the project was meant to bring an end to motorists who used to ignore traditional zebra crossings or harass pedestrians.
“It is a new technology as we have not had standalone pedestrian traffic lights. They were supposed to be installed in places with zebra crossings and with many people crossing.”
