Europe overhauls pedestrian crossing system to please China

Pedestrian crossings have for ages been a silent homage to the African continent, thanks to their association to zebra stripes. But the European Commission, in an unexpected and bold move, has decided to revive a 1962 UK initiative (see report of the BBC) through the adoption of the Panda Crossing Regulation (or PCR I), which aims for all pedestrian crossings to be replaced by 2013 by a new system combining white triangles, beacons with black stripes and a complex system of flashing and pulsating lights and warnings, called the “panda crossing”.

An overview of how the system works is available here (in Flash).

Commissioner Tajani explained during a press conference that “The system is much more adapted to the current heavy traffic situation in Europe and, as a cherry on the pie, it makes our Chinese friends very happy to have Europe symbolically make a gesture towards them by making every pedestrian and driver think of the noble panda, and hence China”. When asked by Paul Cinqsaison, the famous French reporter, if he didn’t think the cost of 2.3 billion Euro to replace all crossings was not a waste of money at a time where Europe is facing a major financial and economic crisis, Tajani said “Well, the Chinese agreed to sponsor it for 2 billion…Hey, if the Africans had agreed first, we’d have kept the darn zebra and maybe added an elephant element on top, not to talk about Obama and his refusal to pay for a bison version”. At that point, the press conference was abruptly ended by an obviously flustered spokesperson who kindly asked all present to ignore the last comment, a request the BJ decided to disregard.