thewhat? it's a type of congestion control....a pic is worth a thousand words:

 

 

 

(Photo of a Barnes Dance pedestrian crossing in Baltimore, MD from the Maryland Historical Society)

 

 

August 14, 2007

Should NYC Bring Back the Barnes Dance?

 

All too often, we read (and write) about horrible instances of traffic fatalities when motor vehicles fail to yield to pedestrians with the right of way. There used to be a simple solution to this problem, and it was known as the Barnes Dance. Although NYC traffic commissioner Henry Barnes didn't invent the concept, it became named after him in the 1960s by a City Hall reporter named John Buchanan.

 

The Barnes Dance involved red lights to vehicular traffic in every direction at an intersection, at which time pedestrians were free to cross in any manner they wanted, including diagonally, without having to fear being hit by a car or truck coming from any direction. They exist in traffic systems around the world.

 

A major shortcoming of the Barnes Dance is that it slows traffic by including a third element of stopped flow: It stopped East-West traffic, stopped North-South traffic, and then stopped all traffic as pedestrians have the complete right of way. It is certainly a pedestrian-friendly measure, and Barnes was a traffic commissioner who knew that the city was about more than getting cars from point A to point B as quickly as possible. He was Robert Moses' foe, who eventually scuttled plans for the Lower Manhattan Expressway.

 

Critics of the Barnes Dance say that it reduces vehicular capacity of roadways and creates what traffic engineers call lost time. Defenders say that some of that lost time is made up by not having right- or left-turning vehicles back up traffic while waiting for crossing pedestrians who have the right of way. The heart of the issue is how a city defines its priorities: pedestrian safety or motor vehicle capacity.

 

Mayor Bloomberg is certainly no stranger to innovative or controversial stances when it comes to New York City traffic. Now that the U.S. Department of Transportation has agreed to give $353 million to help NYC investigate congestion pricing, maybe bringing back the Barnes Dance to NYC should be an addendum to PlanNYC.

 

Comments (36)

 

Great article!

 

I don't imagine this will fly, but if the powers-that-be are reading this, I'm one constituent who would love to see this implemented.

 

[1] Posted by: Robot | August 14, 2007 3:35 PM

I'm thinking Houston + Christie also Delancey + Chrystie. Worst intersections ever. Crossing that street requires signing a will and suicide pact.

 

[2] Posted by: boweryvin | August 14, 2007 3:36 PM

The city should implement this on key major intersections during key hours. It could all be programmed into the signals.

 

[3] Posted by: Blairy Blair | August 14, 2007 3:47 PM

Every week, I almost get hit by some jerk not yielding at a crosswalk. Most of the time I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing, just daring me to step in front of their murder machine. Might makes right. Humanity is the devil.

 

[4] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 3:48 PM

Hank Barnes was a great traffic commissioner (the first in the nation to get that title I believe, but in a different city...Denver?). I think with the huge influx of pedestrians to this city in the past decade warrants the Barnes Dance's return!

 

[5] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 3:49 PM

I just have to say, this is the !@#$% article I've ever read on Gothamist. I mean, who knew? Though I am scratching my head, I am glad to now know about the "Barnes Dance" and how it creates "lost time."

 

[6] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 3:50 PM

Bringing back the Barnes Dance would make the city a much better, safer place for pedestrians. Do it. Do it!

 

[7] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 3:54 PM

Yeah that's exactly what the city needs - more insane congestion. The traffic sucks a lot more for drivers than for pedestrians - outside the stupid WTC construction, I'm never got stuck anywhere while on foot.

 

If anything there should be longer gaps between pedestrian lights and car lights on 3rd ave... that area is sketchy to cross any time of the day. The fact that you can't cross an intersection diagonally isn't really an issue.

 

[8] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 3:57 PM

Hell yes! This would be great to dissuade people from driving in the city.

 

[9] Posted by: Jen S | August 14, 2007 3:59 PM

This actually sounds dangerous to me. You know there will always be some retards in the middle of the intersection when all the lights suddenly turn green.

 

[10] Posted by: SP | August 14, 2007 4:02 PM

Yes, doing it ONLY during peak times would be brilliant. (Big difference between the 60s and now - we've got fancy computers and shit.) Traffic flow is already seriously compromised by vehicle vs. ped negotiations at busy intersections. (Heck, make it alternate with the opposite of a Barnes dance - a free turn for cars.)

 

[11] Posted by: bklynd | August 14, 2007 4:03 PM

seriously, I mean, most people can't operate their metrocards properly, can you imagine having a free-for-all in the middle of the biggest intersections of city?

 

[12] Posted by: SP | August 14, 2007 4:04 PM

Yes, please bring back the Barnes dance citywide (it's actually implemented in some places now). Pedestrians should be the priority, not motor vehicle drivers.

 

[13] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 4:04 PM

This should absolutely be instituted in New York. Pedestrians are what makes New York tick; cars are merely a nuisance. I also recommend banning all cars except for taxis, buses, moving and delivery trucks, and the like from Manhattan. Who needs 'em? Can you imagine how much better the buses would work if there weren't so many idiots driving to work in the most mass transit-friendly city in America?

 

[14] Posted by: hslaton | August 14, 2007 4:13 PM

Yes! What a wonderful idea! Large cities are for walking. And although our ancient infrastructure would probably not allow it, it would be great to have underground permanent "dances" much like East Berlin does at large intersections. Pedestrians never have to wait for the cars and vise/versa.

 

[15] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 4:15 PM

I'm sick of risking my life crossing the stupid street.

 

[16] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 4:16 PM

I'm all for the Barnes Dance as long as they start ticketing people for jay walking!

 

[17] Posted by: Reality Czech | August 14, 2007 4:21 PM

Have any of you ever looked at pretty much any intersection at any time of day? I'd say everyone already does the barnes dance. Jaywalking is a sport in this town.

 

[18] Posted by: MT | August 14, 2007 4:27 PM

It is a good idea and coupled with the countdown clock WALK/DONT WALK signals could actually work. I don't know it it would help on Boulevards of Death like Queens Boulevard, but it is a worthy idea.

 

[19] Posted by: Toby von Meistersinger | August 14, 2007 4:35 PM

i think this is a great idea. this way pedestrians don't have to worry, nor do the drivers. i am sick and tired of reading stories about people being hit (and often killed) by vehicles not yielding to the pedestrian right-of-way, or not seeing the pedestrian, etc. maybe it slows down traffic but that's probably not all bad, given how many out-of-control and up-the-curb accidents you read about lately.

 

[20] Posted by: janelle | August 14, 2007 4:41 PM

I've seen this in San Francisco's Chinatown. It works really well, if you ask me. Bring it here!

 

[21] Posted by: rtd2101 | August 14, 2007 4:44 PM

good idea the problem is that NJ drivers would still turn right on left.

 

[22] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 4:46 PM

d'oh left = red

 

[23] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 4:47 PM

oh no! this will mean that bike riders need to actually stop at red lights??

 

[24] Posted by: Nick S | August 14, 2007 5:12 PM

if jay walking is crossing against the light, then I hardly ever see that happening at any major intersection in the city. what kind of arrogant nut bag would cross when there's a red stop hand telling you not to walk?

If it means trying to make it before the light turns red for the pedestrian, then I've see that.

Yes, I would hope it means Bike riders needs to stop at all four lights, too.

 

 

[25] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 5:21 PM

Excellent idea! They should also broadcast lively music during the pedestrian crossing period.

 

[26] Posted by: Atomische | August 14, 2007 5:22 PM

I suggest Public Enemy or perhaps a rousing rendition of Metallica's Ride The Lightning.

 

[27] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 5:28 PM

no, that song from benny hill!

 

[28] Posted by: janelle | August 14, 2007 5:52 PM

boston does this at many intersections and all it does is give motorists an opportunity to sail through and take a right or left on the red light. i almost got hit yesterday when two cars took a left on a solid red while the pedestrian "barnes dance" walk lights were illuminated. it happens every day. bad drivers are bad drivers. period. what we need are cars that sense when a driver has committed an illegal action (parked too close to a hydrant, run a red light, etc.) and automatically shut off in response. as far as i can tell, both nyc and boston roads would become giant parking lots if that technology were invented.

 

[29] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 5:54 PM

#25, I'm a delivery driver, and I'd say the number one most annoying thing I have to deal with is the jaywalkers. They're everywhere.

 

[30] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 6:11 PM

If they implement this, I'm welding a spiked grate to the front of my car mad max style and driving through intersections all over the city.

 

I will also be blaring Yakety Sax (The Benny Hill song) out of my kickin' system while doing so to add the comedy factor.

 

Fuck you peds.

 

[31] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 6:23 PM

Solution: Be aware of your surroundings when crossing the street.

 

[32] Posted by: glennQNYC | August 14, 2007 6:24 PM

Unfortunately the city caters to the #31s of the city. I've always thought a double red to allow pedestrians total access was worth exploring.

 

Thing is, when one of those lights is about to turn green there'd be a big problem getting the stragglers out of the street.

 

#31, rest assured the city will never do this. Despite the biggest mass transit sytem in the world, NYC is a car town, and always will be.

 

Other cities have mid-block crosswalks, _without stoplights_, where pedestrians cross with impunity.

 

In other cities, cars that are making a right turn _wait and allow pedestrians the right of way._ Shocking!

 

Not here. This is New York.

 

www.forgotten-ny.com

 

[33] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 6:39 PM

As a pedestrian, I hate this sort of setup. I dislike waiting to cross at a busy intersection when I only want to continue going in the direction I was going. Instead of being able to cross when my direction of traffic has the green light, I have to wait until all pedestrians can go. I usually end up jay-walking. I guess I'm just impatient. In New York, at least, if I want to cross diagonally, I usually don't have to wait too long for the next direction crosswalk to have the walk signal after I finish crossing in the first direction. It works out well for me as a pedestrian, and I'm pretty alert about the cars around me, so I don't usually feel threatened by turning vehicles. If they have out-of-state plates, I just assume the worst and wait for them to go. It's not the end of the world if I have to wait for a car to turn every now and again.

 

[34] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 6:54 PM

Shibuya, Tokyo:

 

 

[35] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 7:52 PM

No. No. No to this idea. People will still cross the traffic that is stopped in one direction after the dance period. Now you'll have the dance delay, then the usual jaywalking delay on top of that. No way.

 

[36] Posted by: guest | August 14, 2007 10:47 PM

 

link:

http://gothamist.com/2007/08/14/should_nyc_brin.php

I've seen these called scramble intersections or scramble crosswalks.  Seattle has a few, the largest being in front of Pike Place Market.

^ i think it works better near the market in a crook like that than it would on a busy typical four-way grid intersection like in the baltimore pic above.

Then there's the Lakewood variation, at Detroit Avenue and Warren Road in downtown Lakewood. Here's a picture of it from 1956.....

 

Here it is in Indiana, PA last fall:

That's a good-looking small town.

They had these in downtown DC in the 70's.  Pedestrians didn't wait until the traffic stopped: perhaps because the cycles were too long; perhaps because they were used to standard crossings and continued to cross as they always did.  I think they got rid of them about the same time Congress mandated right-turn-on-red.  Then put up no right turn on red signs at 75% of the intersections in the District!

That's a good-looking small town.

 

Indiana, Pennsylvania is a fairly thriving college town with a nice downtown and an active, well-utilized transit system. I posted a thread on it last fall; the photos on my site are here. Incidentally, the salvage business of the Kovalchik family who own the East Broad Top Railroad is headquartered here.