Automate pedestrian pushbuttons to reduce the spread of coronavirus

Beg Buttons are Back Beg Buttons are Back

CALL TO ACTION: Please sign and share our petition!

As you may know, normally Sydney’s CBD has automatic press buttons during the weekday, Saturdays (except for Sundays and public holidays).

On March 23 the NSW government announced that all pushbuttons in central Sydney will be automated –

https://twitter.com/AndrewConstance/status/1241872088249413632

On March 28, the first crossings near hospitals were fully-automated in Randwick, near the Prince of Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospitals, (with other hospitals scheduled including: RPAH; St Vincents Darlinghurst; The Children’s Hospital and Westmead Hospital; Nepean Hospital; St George Kogarah; RNS ; Blacktown Hospital and Liverpoool Hospital.)

WalkSydney supports this action being extended to Greater Sydney and nationally.

We are asking all Australian state governments to urgently automate all pedestrian buttons. This will help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Unlike other major cities around the world such as LA, Washington DC and New York, Australia’s pedestrian pushbuttons have to be pressed to cross the road, this produces an unnecessary public health risk.

The NSW Government has acknowledged there is some risk in touching surfaces in public places. Every time somebody presses a button, this risks increasing the spread of the virus around Australia.

We call on Australia’s state and territory governments to make this simple and urgent change now.

Australian pedestrian level of service needs higher priority to support people and movement.

Sign our petition now!

TfNSW Sydney CBD Automated Pedestrian Signals