Pedestrians and cyclists to give way to trams at light rail line crossings
The light rail line brings new types of crossings to the streetscape. However, these crossing points are not zebra crossings. They are simply marked points where people always give way to approaching light rail trams.
Traffic on the new light rail line 15 will start between Keilaniemi in Espoo and Itäkeskus in Helsinki on Saturday, 21 October 2023. The light rail line is being tested already before this date.
Unlike other vehicles, the light rail tram usually has right of way over pedestrians and cyclists. The line should only be crossed at the marked points.
The crossings are points intended for crossing the line, and pedestrians are always obliged to give way to trams. If the crossing has traffic lights, the traffic lights must be followed.
There are no zebra-crossing traffic signs or painted markings at these crossings. You can identify the crossings by the brown-coloured concrete on the street surface. There is a white tram image in the middle of the tracks. The crossings continue on both sides of the line as standard zebra crossings.
The area around the Korkeakouluaukio square on the Aalto University campus in Otaniemi is an exception. In this area, trams run through a pedestrian square and you can cross the tracks anywhere, but the trams always have right of way. Drivers take the shared space into consideration and, if necessary, warn pedestrians and cyclists by ringing the bell.
Trams have a long braking distance
The braking distance of heavy trams is long, so last-minute crossings should definitely be avoided. The average speed of the light rail trams is higher than that of trams in the inner city of Helsinki. At the moment, the average speed of trams in the inner city is approximately 14.5 km/h, while the average speed on the light rail line will be approximately 25 km/h.
The trams in the inner city travel among other traffic on a winding street network. The light rail trams travel most of their journey on a line separate from other traffic. The long straight sections of the line allow the light rail tram to travel at a speed as high as 70 km/h.
The purpose of the crossings is to allow the tram and its passengers to travel smoothly. The tram can continue its journey smoothly from the stop, as it does not have to wait for people leaving the stop at a zebra crossing. People can continue their journey when the tram has left the stop.
The news article was updated on 23 October. A paragraph concerning the Korkeakouluaukio area in Otaniemi was added.