The Zebra Law

The in Sweden populary known "Zebra Law", is a law that relatively newly was legislated in Sweden. It made it illegal (rather than a proposal) for motorists not to stop if someone were about to walk over a pedestrian crossing.

The result?

More people than ever are run down by cars at pedestrian crossings (non- lighted), because people in general now seems to think they are invincible, and dont look down the street anymore when they try to.

Sollution?

The Swedish Road Administration has descided to remove pedestrian crossings.

Nnnngh! They just can't help but to put their hats on backwards- can they?

Oh- and another thing!
Motorists here have to leave way for bicyklists with the exception of:'
When the bicyklist crosses a road on a pedestrian crossing! (The have to leave way if you cross the road a meter on the side of the crossing!)

They also have to leave way for bicyklist when turning out of a roundabout, but not when going in to it!

Here we also have special bicykle lanes and roads. You can get fined for riding your bike at the pedestrian lanes, but the pedestrians can walk about wherever they want.

Because this is an university city (50 000 students) and also because it is impractible to use cars- there is a lot of bicykling going on (And walking). When i ride my bike to work or the university, it's like trying to ride through an obstacle course. People here does'nt look up or down the streets when taking a step out in to them to cross them. They walk in the middle of the streets, preferably 3-5 side by side- even though there are perfectly good side curbs and when they cross a street, the preffered way of doing it is diagonally, which means that crossing a ten meter lane takes them for a thirty meter walk...

And here I come. Me, my bike and my backpack weighs in at about 110 kilos. I'm riding at maybe 20 km/h! Think of the kinetic energy there...