Toucan crossing

A toucan crossing is a type of pedestrian crossing that also allows bicycles to be ridden across.[1] Since two-can, both pedestrians and cyclists, cross together, the name "toucan" was chosen.

Toucan crossing, Vauxhall (2004)
Control panel, London (2011)

In the United Kingdom, toucan crossings are normally 4 metres (13 feet) wide, instead of the 2.8 metre (9 feet) width of a pelican crossing or puffin crossing. There are two types of toucan crossing: on more recently installed ones, a "green bicycle" is displayed next to the "green man" when cyclists and pedestrians are permitted to cross. A red bicycle and red man are shown at other times; older ones do not have a red bicycle – bicycles are permitted to cross at any time (if it is safe to do so).[2]

Unlike the pelican crossing, before the lights for vehicles go back to green, a steady red and amber are displayed instead of a flashing amber. The pedestrian/cyclist signal lights may be on the near side of the crossing (like a puffin crossing), or on the opposite side of the road (like a pelican crossing).

A related crossing type is the pegasus crossing for horse riders.

The toucan crossing often comes up as a multiple choice question on the DVSA car or motorcycle theory test. It is easily remembered by attributing the 'toucan' with 'two can' cross – pedestrians and cyclists.

References

  1. The Highway Code, Rule 80
  2. Cyclecraft, p199.
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