Running green man gets removed from traffic lights
Running green man gets removed from traffic lights
2026-03-12
When you’re crossing the street, and you see the green man running on the traffic light, do you run too? It’s quite a normal reaction, but some think it’s also dangerous. That’s why the animation is soon to be history in Taiwan, as experts believe the running man and the countdown prompt pedestrians to rush across the road. Though the running animation will be gone, the flashing signals on the pedestrian light will remain, to warn people not to cross. In addition, people who cross the street when the light is flashing will no longer face fines.
The countdown is ending and people race across the street like athletes vying for gold in the 100m sprint. Soon, the green man running on the traffic light won’t join the race. According to traffic experts, the sped-up animation pressures pedestrians to hurtle across the street in the last few seconds.
Member of public
Looks at the countdown
I think the best thing is to just look at the countdown. At least that way, as a pedestrian, you can prepare mentally.
Member of public
Is careful crossing the street
Who would think that? It’s just meant as a warning. I look at the green man, and I look to both sides of the street. The flashing warns you that you shouldn’t cross. That’s what we should all tell our elders. I told my mother to not cross when it’s flashing, because at her pace she wouldn’t make it to the other side.
The Transport Ministry is also clarifying the meaning of the flashing pedestrian signal. Now, crossing the road on a flashing light is not prohibited, and fines won’t be issued to those who do. But it is still best to avoid doing so. Does that mean it’s goodbye to the green man?
Wu Tung-ling
Transport Ministry official
What we will be eliminating is the sped-up walking animation. The flashing light will remain. It’s always been there.
Officials say the green man will no longer run, but it will still flash. But this small change could be hard to implement, as not every traffic light is on the same settings. For instance, here on Taipei’s Bade Road, some of the green men run, while others only flash.
Wu Tung-ling
Transport Ministry official
After we make the necessary arrangements, we will give local governments some time to make the change. We want to get the running green men out as quickly as possible. It might require editing some code, but let’s fix it quickly.
According to the ministry, Yilan County is the place in Taiwan with the highest number of running green men. Until the new regulations are implemented, officials urge pedestrians to not copy the little green man, and avoid running into crossings.
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#pedestrian #pedestriansafety #walkable #walkablecities #trafficlight #greenman
紅綠燈小綠人閃爍走入歷史? 卓揆建議"取消閃爍"
2026-03-12
綠燈倒數，民眾要過馬路，卻遇上秒數不足，只好跟小綠人一起跑起來。不過這畫面，恐怕將走入歷史。行政院長卓榮泰宣布，全國小綠人閃爍動畫，都得退場。前一天，交通部也才剛修法，把小綠人閃爍衝刺行為，化為免罰範圍。民眾反應，其實有秒數，就很清楚！
綠燈倒數，民眾過馬路成百米賽跑，全力向前衝，只不過這陪跑的小綠人，以後恐怕要消失了。行政院長卓榮泰主持道安會議，直言小綠人閃爍加速動畫，會讓行人產生＂把握最後衝刺機會＂的錯誤認知，應該取消。
[[民眾]]
“最好要秒數大概還有幾秒，這樣子的話，對行人來講的話，至少心理上要有個準備。”
[[民眾]]
“怎麼會這種想法呢?那有警告作用。(過馬路)還是會看小綠人，而且都會雙邊看。閃就告訴你你最好是能夠不要過，然後你的老人家，就告訴他不要過，像我媽媽我就跟他說，只要有閃都不要過，因為你的腳步一定過不了。”
交通部才剛公告修法，將秒數不足卻跨入馬路的行為，從禁止改為避免。也就是說，以後小綠人閃爍時，行人搶過，免罰。只不過，行政院隨後表態，連小綠人閃爍都不要。似乎跟交通部，產生衝突？
[[交通部路政及道安司司長 吳東凌]]
“我們要取消快走，快走的這個階段，閃爍並沒有取消，閃爍本來就是有。”
交通部解釋，奔跑小綠人會退場，閃爍小綠人則不受影響。目前全國小綠人，倒數樣態，並未統一。記者隨機觀察，發現台北市八德路上，同個路口，秒數不足時，有的是跑起來，有的則是只會閃爍。
[[交通部路政及道安司司長 吳東凌]]
“我們協調好之後，給他們(地方政府)一個緩衝的時間，趕快去把這樣子的小綠人快走這樣子的，裡面可能會有一些程式需要修改，我們趕快去律訂好。”
交通部統計，目前奔跑小綠人最多的縣市是宜蘭縣，通令改善後，希望全國統一，讓民眾別再學小綠人，在秒數不足時跑起來，不小心就跑進馬路虎口。
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