LONDON: For the thousands of children in Britain who struggle each day to cross busy streets outside their schools, help is at hand in the shape of a pop-up zebra crossing that can be installed on any road in less than a minute.
The idea was developed by parents in Kingston-upon-Thames, a London suburb, after their request for a safe crossing outside their children's school was turned down on the basis of cost; according to the Highways Agency, a basic zebra crossing costs an eye-watering £114,000 (RM565,000).
The pop-up zebra crossing costs less than £50 (RM248) to install. It uses recycled linoleum, drain pipes and two orange balloons to create an effect that is almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Spokesman at the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) and one of the parents behind the pop-up zebra crossing, Yannick Read, said: "The idea may be tongue-in-cheek, but the issue is deadly serious; with over 2,000 children killed or seriously injured each year on our roads, parents should never have to battle to have a genuine crossing installed."
The first ever pop-up zebra crossing was unveiled on Thursday to coincide with Green Transport Week 2012, which runs from June 16-24.