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michaeltyesterday at 2:32 PM3 repliesview on HN

I once lived in a city that had replaced street lights that cast light in a circle with modernised ones that cast a sharply delimited rectangle of light on the road, and didn't waste light in other directions.

The thing was, the roads of this city were arranged as a footpath, then a grassed area with trees, then the lights, then the roadway. Only after the city had rolled out thousands of these lights did someone notice the footpaths were now much darker. And also the footpaths were quite uneven, due to the trees' roots - a problem the lights had previously been keeping under control.

It's now common, in winter, to see groups jogging on the road.


Replies

wongarsuyesterday at 3:18 PM

Planners forgetting that pedestrians exist is sadly a common occurrence

Rotundoyesterday at 3:08 PM

Over here, joggers are frequently wearing headlamps to illuminate their way. Often combined with a light on their back. They can see and can be seen, which is safe.

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Finnucaneyesterday at 4:03 PM

Get rid of cars and they'd take down all the lights.