I’VE suggested previously that pedestrians should have their own lobby in York as other transport users do, so partly to promote the idea I thought I’d present my personal view on a few little hassles and hazards affecting the walking community in our city centre.

Let’s kick off with pedestrian crossings and a note to motorists and cyclists: people using the crossing at the junction of Micklegate and George Hudson Street are sometimes foolish enough to assume that if the lights (when they’re actually working) change in their favour, and particularly when the green man is illuminated, it’s safe for them to cross.

Sometimes they even start stepping out into the road – a reckless act, as all too often a bicycle, a car or even a bus is whizzing round the right turn into George Hudson Street.

So maybe drivers and cyclists should refrain from trying to beat the lights at this busy spot, if that’s what’s causing the problem. If it isn’t, maybe the council should have a look at the lights; unless that’s already happened during the recent traffic lights blackout here.

(As an aside, I found it interesting to note that though at first crossing this junction was difficult at busy times due to the lack of signals, after a while everyone seemed to find a way of working round each other, possibly more safely than when vehicles were coming through while the green man was lit.) Moving a little out of the centre, was it really part of the big plan when the Blossom Street/Queen Street/Micklegate/Nunnery Lane lights were revamped that there should be no easily visible green indicator for people trying to cross from the corner of the Windmill pub to the Micklegate side?

Deprived of the previous prominent green man signal, locals have learned to peer over to the Nunnery Lane side to see if there’s any sign of a green light to guide them, but you can still see bemused tourists wondering whether to cross. Sometimes they wander into the road at the wrong time, but fortunately the traffic is often moving so slowly here that disaster is averted. Still, a more conspicuous pedestrian signal here would be nice.

My next bugbear is about an area next to some lights, but the lights aren’t the problem. Again, it’s a note to drivers and cyclists – including drivers of delivery vans, who appear to think they have some kind of exemption – to try signalling and slowing down when attempting to turn left from Low Ousegate into Spurriergate and High Ousegate. This would certainly be preferable to trying, as many do, to speed up to get past anyone inconsiderate enough to be walking in this busy area.

In a city not exactly short of speed humps, I’m mildly surprised there aren’t a couple of raised areas at this “entrance” to the central shopping area, just to provide a teeny bit of deterrence to impatient road users.

They tend to be more careful and/or considerate a few yards further along, where there’s actually and old-fashioned zebra crossing at the junction of Coppergate, but even here road users will occasionally try to “beat” the pedestrian.

On a more general note, I know it’s a constant moan from the walking brigade, but it is nonetheless true that not only do pedestrians have a right to cross roads, if they’re already crossing they have priority over vehicles turning at a junction.

This means road users should let them get across, instead of trying to bully their way past them or forcing them to race for the safety of the pavement opposite. It’s in the Highway Code; try reading it if you don’t believe me.

Of course, one of the underlying dilemmas in York is we are fortunate enough to have a relatively bustling city, so much so that sometimes we haven’t really enough room for everyone who wants to use our highways and byways.

It means we all should show some consideration for each other – and that includes motorists, cyclists and transport planners looking out for the humble footslogger.