A6096 and canal culvert

Image: © Kate Jewell Taken: 4 Jun 2009

The disused Nottingham Canal is culverted under the Ilkeston to Kimberley road here. The traffic lights control the traffic for a Pegasus crossing. This type of crossing is usually used outside race courses or areas where horses are trained. Here it is on a bridleway that crosses this busy main road. The Pegasus crossing is similar to any other light controlled crossing, but in addition to provision for pedestrians (as at a Pelican Crossing) and/or cyclists (as at a Toucan crossing) the Pegasus crossing makes special provision for horses. For riders there is a 'high level' push button to operate the crossing, see Image The Pelican crossing is the most common type of crossing apart from the Zebra crossing. The name derives from a pseudo-acronym for 'Pedestrian Light Controlled', with the 'o' changed to an 'a' in deference to the bird. The use of improbable animal symbols began in 1951 with the introduction of 'Zebra' crossings. The derivation of the Toucan crossing is from "Two-Can Cross" as cyclists are allowed to ride over the crossing alongside pedestrians. A Puffin crossing, from "Pedestrian User-Friendly Intelligent crossings" differ from Pelican crossings as there is no flashing green man phase. On Puffin crossings the red and green figures are above the control box on the side of the road. Many of these also incorporate infra red camera sensors to judge when the pedestrian has reached the other side and vary the red light time accordingly.

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