As of: March 7, 2024, 5:02 p.m
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The green phase is too short: By the time the children from the “Lilly Runs” daycare center are on the other side of the street, the pedestrian traffic light on Ganghoferstrasse has long since shown red again.
© Marcus Schlaf
In an application from the “Lilly Running” daycare center, the children want the green phase of a traffic light to be extended.
The mobility department refused.
Instead, the daycare center should take part in a pilot project to influence the signal duration.
“We can go,” shout the children at the “Lilly runs” daycare center.
They stand in rows of two at the traffic lights on Ganghoferstrasse at the corner of Max-Hirschberg-Weg.
This morning they don't go to the playground opposite as usual.
Today is a very special day for you, because the mobility department and Dagmar Irlinger (Greens) from the Sendlingen district committee (BA) have announced an on-site appointment.
In an application to the city of Munich, the children requested an extension of the green phase of the traffic lights in front of their kindergarten.
Ultimately, the group of 16 children cross the street at least twice a day.
The application was the result of a quarter project
Last summer the “district suitcase” was on tour in Sendling.
The aim of the district project is to improve the district from the children's perspective.
The children from “Lilly Runs” decided to extend the traffic light period.
They now run obediently through the traffic lights to show that the eight seconds of green time is too short for a group of small children with a handcart and toys.
But the Mobility Department (MOR) rejected the children's application.
The department sees no need for an extension.
The reason: The average speed of a pedestrian is 1.2 meters per second.
It takes a person just under eight seconds to cross a road that is seven meters wide.
The traffic light on Ganghoferstrasse stays green for just as long, explains Erich Schlittenbauer from MOR to the children.
This means that a complete crossing is possible during the green period.
The city's decision causes long faces
Long faces on the children.
Disappointment for Ana-Miriam Uhl, the educational director of “Lilly Running”.
Question marks also at Irlinger.
Uhl wants to know why this appointment even happened today if the application remains rejected.
“First of all: We did not reject the application,” corrects Schlittenbauer decisively.
Instead, he would like to offer the kindergarten to take part in a “forward-looking pilot project”.
As part of a limited field test starting in autumn 2024, the daycare center employees should be able to extend the traffic light switching using an app.
A mobile phone equipped with this app connects to the traffic light control unit and can immediately vary the signal program run.
Educator is critical of the planned app
“This functionality seems to us to be much more suitable, especially for people with limited mobility or larger groups,” explains the mobility department.
Uhl is not convinced.
“I think you have no idea about the realities in educational institutions,” she replies dryly.
She has been working understaffed for three years.
Her employees have a two-year-old child on each hand on the street.
“How are we supposed to use an app?” the daycare director wants to know.
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According to Schlittenbauer, you don't have to use the phone; it would be enough to carry it in your pocket.
The group will test exactly how the app works this year.
“We want to get it on the road this year,” says Schlittenbauer.
Referat refers to the so-called protection period
The children are now shuffling their feet impatiently.
They go through the green light one last time.
Just as the last children hop onto the sidewalk, the traffic light turns red.
“Don’t worry if it turns red,” says Schlittenbauer.
“Then comes the protection time.” This phase following the green light lasts seven seconds.
During this time, all the traffic lights at the intersection are red. Every pedestrian then has enough time to get off the road before the cars drive off, he explains.
Educator Uhl thoughtfully counters, “What do we teach children when we cross the intersection when it’s red?” Green means walking, red means standing – that’s not only a well-known children’s traffic song, but also the police’s guiding principle for traffic safety.
This is how the children learn it, Schlittenbauer confirms – and adds: “But that’s not the whole truth.”
Frustration in children and teacher
Frustration sets in.
“Why isn’t the green phase simply extended by three seconds?” Irlinger (Greens) finally asks.
“That won’t happen,” Schlittenbauer replies directly.
He then points out the really quick change to green when a pedestrian hits the traffic light.
“But it turns red again just as quickly,” replies Uhl with a smile.