Today Chicago Loop Gets First Tokyo Style Pedestrian Scramble!

The local ABC Chicago news station has just released a news story and video about a new development affecting thousands of drivers and pedestrians on a daily basis who navigate the downtown business district known as the Chicago Loop. Starting today, Chicago is getting its first pedestrian scramble. Pedestrians at State Street and Jackson Boulevard in Chicago's Loop can now cross diagonally through the intersection.

For those of us who know any of Tokyo's large and busy scrambles, seeing an image of the Chicago crosswalk may prompt a smile. That's because ours is quite smaller by comparison, due to the density of the Loop area. But it is nevertheless a big deal here, and actually a serious matter, since drivers will need to be aware that they can no longer make turns in this intersection.  Pedestrians also need to understand how to cross these streets safely. So news stations are broadcasting reports about the all-way pedestrian crossing, telling Chicagoans what to expect and how to navigate through this intersection. Click here to view one of these video broadcasts. The intersection now has a 35-second traffic cycle in which all traffic, including bicycles, stops to allow people on foot to cross the street in any direction, even diagonally. This is a pilot program.  If it is successful, more scrambles may be added.  This particular intersection was chosen because of its close proximity to DePaul University's Loop Campus and John Marshall Law School.  It is also fairly close to the CTA and Union Station train station.  More than 41,000 pedestrians cross at the intersection of State and Jackson streets each day.

Tokyo has some well known pedestrian scrambles of its own. Maybe the most famous and often-photographed one is the Shibuya Scramble, a crossing directly in front of the Shibuya subway station and in the center of a major shopping district. In the immediate area is also a train terminal and bus terminal.

Here is an image I posted on Flickr awhile back which I took while standing on the edge of this intersection. The large white building connected to the station is the Tokyu Department Store. 

I found an interesting blog called the Japan Bucket List written by a New Zealander. Item #34 on her list is the Shibuya Scramble.  She has some amusing words to describe what it is like.  I agree with her that it is one of the many things you just have to experience when you go to Japan!  Here is the  link.

At least one more scramble I am aware of is the Sukiyabashi Crossing in Yurakucho. That crosswalk is shown here. 

One of my favorite urban hotspots in Tokyo is the Ginza Scramble in front of the Sony Building.  Located in the heart of the Ginza district, the energy at that intersection is just amazing. How can you get an adrenaline rush and a feeling of human connectedness just by crossing the street? Go over to Ginza and navigate across this pedestrian crossing by day or by night - then you'll know!